The awkward truth was that, by some stroke of misfortune, Fanny and Mary had been very little in each other’s company. It seemed to be the child who was the busiest. She had been sent off, somewhere or other, while the wedding took place. And since then, of course, now Mary’s lessons were at Godmersham, it made sense for her to sleep there, while Fanny’s new life was with her husband in Hatch. In fact, with the four boys away, too, the young Knatchbulls were still, to Fanny, almost strangers.

‘It is a pleasure to have all them at home for our first Christmas together,’ Fanny said warmly. ‘I am looking forward to spending more time with the dear little things.’

CHAPTER VIII

At last, Fanny was able to return to her beloved Godmersham, for the joys of Twelfth Night.

‘Darling!’ Lizzie flung her arms around Fanny’s neck.

‘Dearest!’ Marianne took her hand and pulled her towards the blazing hearth in the great hall.

‘How was your first Christmas without us?’ Lizzie took her cloak and passed it over to Johncock. ‘Were you so sad you could die?’

Fanny looked behind her to check that Sir Edward was not yet in earshot, but the front door was still open – there seemed to be some dispute about horses – and the coast was clear. ‘It passed well enough,’ Fanny whispered, while fiddling with the ribbons beneath her chin and removing her bonnet. ‘The children behaved nicely.’ They had barely said a word. ‘Lady Banks was convivial.’ She did not stop talking. ‘And we went twice to church!’ She turned back to her sisters with a brave and bright smile, but could not help adding: ‘It was nowhere near as heavenly as being here with you.’ She patted her hair. ‘Tell me honestly: how was yours without me?’

The girls exchanged glances.

‘Honestly?’

‘Of course!’ Fanny stood up on tiptoe to catch herself in the glass. ‘You know I want for nothing but you all to be happy.’

‘In which case—’

‘Our Christmas was glorious!’ They both squealed at high pitch: a rat, say, on meeting a stoat.

‘We all had the loveliest time.’

‘Excellent.’ Fanny turned her attention to the smoothing down of her skirts. ‘That is good to know.’

‘But, oh!’ Marianne put her arm through Fanny’s. ‘We did so miss you, Fan.’ She started to guide Fanny through to the library. ‘Shall we go through and coze?’

‘If you’ll excuse me, I might have a rest before dinner.’ Fanny instead headed through to the staircase. ‘I take it, Marianne, I have my usual room?’