“Well, it’s just that Catherine—Lady Hartley—asked me to accompany her up to Top Withens, not all of us.”

“I am happy not to come,” Branwell said, attempting to turn on his heel but failing when Emily pinned him to the spot. “But if I must, I own it would be preferable to do so in a carriage.”

“We are travelling more or less to the same place,” Anne said. “If you are to ride up there, it seems unkind to make us walk when there will space enough in such a fine carriage.”

“It’s not a question of what is fair, Anne,” Charlotte said, “rather of what is proper. I am not in a position to extend Lady Hartley’s invitation, and I certainly don’t want to impose upon her good nature.”

“Oh, good Lord,” Emily said. “The sun is up, and I can smell spring in the air. I’d much rather walk anyhow. Come on, Anne, Branwell. Let us leave Charlotte to her airs and graces.”

They were all taken aback as Keeper, who a moment before had been sleeping in the kitchen, leapt up with a furious bark and hurled himself at the front door, snarling and growling as if the devil himself had come to call. Bemused, Emily opened the door, and the dog flew out of the house, bounding and leaping over the gravestones with quite some speed, disappearing into the distance.

“How very strange,” Emily wondered. “I rarely see him so vexed and toothy.”

“I imagine that it is just too fine a day for any self-respecting dog to want to be inside,” Lady Hartley said, appearing on the doorstep with a beaming smile. “I always say you must let the beast be free or pay the consequence. Don’t you agree, Emily?”

“I suppose I do,” Emily said, offering a rather begrudging curtsey, as if she were suddenly a surly child being forced into study.

“We are of an accord.” Lady Hartley smiled warmly. “I hope you don’t mind my taking your sister away from you for a few hours this morning, Emily, Anne, Branwell? We are rather keen to try between us to get to the bottom of this matter with the bones, rather like lady constables—can you imagine?” Her laugh was very merry.

“I cannot!” Emily replied. “It seems inconceivable. As it happens, Anne, Branwell and I are also heading up the moor this morning. Please do not run us down when you pass us by.”

“We shall do better than that,” Lady Hartley said at once. “Join us in my carriage. It will be rather a tight fit, but we five can scheme and plot, and the journey will go all the faster.”

“Thank you, Catherine,” Charlotte said, smiling encouragingly at her siblings.

“It would be very pleasant,” Anne said, stepping out into the bright morning.