After one health issue, then another – the boy was uncommonly prone to accidents – poor Norton had left school altogether, returning to Hatch and his role as yet another cross for Fanny to bear. Dear oh dear, where would that saga end? she wondered. He was simply one of those difficult creatures. Might he take after Sir Edward’s father? She shuddered, sighed and treated herself to a change of subject.

The weather in the autumn had been uncommonly wet—

There suddenly came the most terrible roar. Fanny tilted her head. Could that be Sir Edward? She supposed that it must. Her papa almost never raised his dear voice. Now what had happened? She sat up, preparing to rise and go and investigate. Then, with equal suddenness, peace reigned once more.

Fanny sat back, and considered the unfortunate mortality rate among sheep and oxen. And it had been a bad year for hops too, had it not? As for the banking system—

The door was flung open and banged back against the wall.

‘Lady Knatchbull!’ This was loud even by Sir Edward’s own, very high standards.

‘My dear?’ Fanny was up and out of her seat. ‘You are upset! What on earth is the matter?’

‘Collect your things and bring Mary Dorothea. We are returning to Hatch this very instant. Daniel is waiting. There is not a minute to waste.’

‘But why, dearest …?’ She rushed to his side and took his hand. ‘Pray, surely, you owe me a reason …’ And she had been so looking forward to a Godmersham family dinner.

Sir Edward staggered to the nearest chair, fell into it and buried his face in his arms. All strength seemed to have left his excellent body.

‘My dear.’ Sir Edward looked up at his wife. ‘I beg you.’ His dear face was collapsed into itself with sorrow. ‘Now. Let us go.’

By the time their wheels cut the gravel, the day was well into its twilight. With a gloved finger, Fanny peeled back a corner of damask curtain and saw fields glistening with cold; a new surface of ice at the edge of the river; a white moon rising in a navy blue sky. The atmosphere inside the carriage was colder still.

Fanny studied the girl sitting opposite. Although Mary had a right to feel put out, or shocked, at being forced to leave Godmersham early – she should even now be preparing for yet another party that evening; Fanny could see through the gap in her cloak that she was already dressed in her gown – in fact Mary seemed not entirely unhappy. Was she blushing indeed? Surely not. Anyway the light was going, so Fanny could not rightly decide.