‘There will be no riding today.’ Fanny was pale, plump and thoroughly bad-tempered. ‘It is truly outrageous to take up all Daniel’s time. He has plenty of work with the new coach-and-four which, as you well know, is your dear father’s proudest possession. It must not be compromised, Mary. I shall not have it.’

‘But of course,’ Mary replied, without any edge of apology. ‘The conveyance must come first at all times, I completely agree.’ She moved as if to take off her cloak, and sighed. ‘And pray do not worry, Mama. I am quite sure my health will not suffer unduly. Perhaps you have noticed that I have not taken ill even once this autumn? Booker puts it entirely down to the riding … Still, we will just have to trust it to continue, I suppose. Certainly, it would pain me to cause you any more inconvenience, dearest Mama, with you being indifferent—’

‘Oh very well.’ Lady Knatchbull was starting to look rather green. ‘See if Norton will take you. I am returning to bed.’

‘I say, but you ladies have the hell of a life,’ Norton grumbled, quite amiably, as they trotted towards Brook a half-hour later. ‘It’s quite the revelation. All these years of hateful separation and it turns out I don’t know the first thing about you, old girl. Look at the seat on you! Had no idea. Is this what you were doing all day, while I was locked up in that prison in fear of my life?’

‘Come, come, dear, ’ Mary laughed. ‘I refuse to believe that Winchester College was so very bad. You seem to have survived it.’

‘By the skin of my teeth. Thank God it’s now over. Enemies the lot of them – boys on the one flank, dons on the other. They were all out to get me, you know.’

‘Really? Yet, at the same time, they seemed quite keen to see the back of you. Did not the Master write to Papa and beg that you not be returned?’

Norton roared at her then – he was turning into Sir Edward – lunged at her shoulder and made her horse bolt. Screaming with laughter, Mary charged around the wood with her brother in hot pursuit. At which point, Ned made his appearance.

‘Good morning, sir!’ Norton sharply drew up his horse. ‘A pleasure and, what’s more, a coincidence! You are some miles from Godmersham. Might you be calling on our mother? I fear she is not at her best …’