‘Well I never,’ she smiled, sitting up straighter. ‘That young woman on the weather last night said it wouldn’t reach as far south as here. Can you move the tray, my dear? This I have to see.’

‘No, you don’t,’ I said, pulling my phone out of my dressing gown pocket and snapping a few shots of the view. ‘You stay where you are.’

Dolly looked at the pictures and tucked into her honey-covered toast while I poured us both cups of tea.

‘I’m rather pleased I’m not at school today,’ she said, no doubt thinking of the slippery walk to work. ‘Although it’s a shame to miss the children’s excitement.’

‘But not Beamish’s concerns about the boiler,’ I reminded her. ‘I bet he’ll be like a bear with a sore head.’

‘Now, Hattie,’ she tutted, ‘when have you ever known him to be anything other than an affable young man? Nothing fazes him. Although,’ she added, looking again at my phone, ‘there’ll be plenty of extra jobs for him to do today, what with gritting the paths and checking the water pipes.’

My mind flitted back to the dodgy tap in the art room which had very nearly been the instigator for more than a wet shirt.

‘But I’m sure he’ll manage,’ Dolly sighed, ‘and still be on time to take us to the hall.’

‘Oh yes,’ I agreed, dismissing the thought of our drenching. ‘Wynthorpe Hall is going to look even more perfect now, isn’t it?’

‘Yes,’ she said, her pale cheeks gaining a little colour. ‘Let’s hope it hasn’t all melted away by the end of the day. Was that the post?’

Her mention of the rattling letterbox reminded me of my morning’s task. It was now four days since my Christmas card to my parents had set off on its unexpected journey.

‘I’ll check,’ I told Dolly, standing up, ‘and would it be all right if I used the house phone to call Jonathan? I promise I’ll reimburse you when the bill comes in.’

‘Of course,’ she said. ‘You should know you don’t have to ask. And don’t worry about bringing the post up, but if you could take the tray down that would be most appreciated. I’m rather comfortable in here so I don’t think I’ll get up just yet.’

I wasn’t sure if she was tactfully staying out of the way while I made my call or if she was genuinely enjoying her lie-in. Either way, I valued the privacy her reluctance to get up afforded me.

‘All right,’ I said, as I backed out of the room and pulled the door to with my foot. ‘I’ll see you in a bit.’