‘My dear child,’ Fanny continued. Having finally embarked on the act of confiding, she seemed unable to stop. ‘It has not escaped my notice that you have endured a … troubling few months, and I would like to take this opportunity to give credit for the manner with which you have conducted yourself. Though it cannot have been without its challenges, you have behaved perfectly properly throughout.’

‘Thank you, Mama.’ Fanny might have embarked on a mystifying new intimacy, but Mary’s own script was unchanged.

‘It has been an unpleasant business. Such a pity that my dear brother had to take on so, but there – we can now put it behind us. Though you have been the primary victim, I must say that it has not been easy for me. I have been—’

‘—in a difficult position, Mama,’ Mary finished for her. ‘Oh, I have seen that.’

‘That is most kind. Entirely between us, I am not sure your father has fully appreciated the fact. But I am slightly concerned that while my energies have lately been taken up with his feelings, I may have neglected your own.’

‘I bear you no resentment, Mama,’ Mary replied, at last in all honesty.

Fanny acknowledged her with a tilt of the head. ‘But I fear it was remiss not to talk to you directly and that troubles me still.’ She lapsed into silence for a moment, studied the flames in the fire, stroked her expanding girth and then went further. ‘For the record, I would like it to be known that – once I had got over the shock, that is – I was never overtly hostile.’ Fanny gave a sad sort of smile. ‘Actually, it might have been rather cosy – another secure tie between our two families.’

Sudden hope rose in Mary’s breast. She turned her head, studied her mother. Could she be brought on side after all? Should Mary confess even now, plead for a blessing? She chose her next words with care. ‘It is a pretty thought, Mama …’

But, of course, Fanny took it no further. ‘Sadly, your father could not be convinced of the same.’ She sighed. ‘And once he had hit on the idea of my brother being your uncle—’

Mary had to speak up then, and did so in earnest. ‘I never have seen him that way, Mama.’ It was important that she, too, went on the record. ‘As you know, I have become deeply fond of all the Godmersham family, and to my mind they are not quite relations, but rather dear friends.’

‘Speaking perfectly frankly, Mary, I am delighted to hear it, and completely agree. But when your father’s mind is set … Ah, well.’

For where was the merit in discussing Sir Edward’s opinions when they could not be altered? Neither lady could ever hope to know that sort of power. And so, they instead both surrendered and lapsed into a silence that came close to companionable.