“His Lordship must get someone down from London to advise what is the best way to restore them,” Carina said, speaking more to herself than to the footman.

Then, as he waited, she added,

“Put it with the others, will you?”

“It’s the last one, miss,” the footman told her. “His Lordship says the men have had a long day and they can leave everythin’ else till tomorrow.”

“I expect everyone is tired,” Carina said sympathetically.

She rose to her feet, realising that she had been sitting for a long time and her legs felt cramped.

She looked down the long beautifully proportioned ballroom where everything that was being salvaged from the fire had been stacked and thought with a sense of satisfaction that a great deal had been saved.

The ballroom was exquisite, with its white and gold walls and glittering crystal chandeliers.

Carina wondered a little wistfully if she would ever see a ball here with the ladies’ skirts billowing out over the parquet floor and the gentlemen twirling them around in that much criticised dance, the waltz.

She walked back through the house and, glancing at a big grandfather clock, saw that it was nearly five o’clock.

‘Another hour before I put Dipa to bed,’ she thought.

There was no need to worry about him. He had seemed not in the least upset by the dangers he had encountered the night before.

He had awoken well and cheerful and could talk of nothing but the kittens downstairs, asking incessantly how soon he could see them. Because Carina was sure that there were things she could do to help, she had taken Dipa down to the kitchen where the fat old cook had welcomed them both.

“Leave him with me, miss,” she said to Carina. “I’m used to children, havin’ had five of my own. And the little Prince will come to no harm playin’ with the kittens for their mother is one of the gentlest creatures I’ve ever known.”

Telling Dipa to be a good boy, Carina had gone in search of Lord Lynche, only to find that he had left at dawn for The Castle to try to salvage all that had not been completely destroyed by the fire.

Very soon the estate carts were coming down the long drive piled high with pictures and furniture, some badly burned, some only superficially spoiled by smoke and water.

Carina had them all put in the ballroom, as it was the one room in the house large enough to store everything. Then she had started to make a catalogue, feeling that by doing so she would assist Lord Lynche and at the same time soothe her own feelings of restlessness and apprehension.

Now after a long day she felt the emotions that she had been keeping at bay flood over her and she drew in her breath quickly when she reached the hall and saw a man come hurrying through the open door.