“I agree with you,” she said quickly. “And I think it would be best if, in future, the Prince and I had luncheon upstairs. I did suggest it this morning, but I was told that it was correct for the Prince to eat downstairs.”

“Who told you that?” Mrs. Barnstaple asked.

“Well, actually, I think it was Sir Percy Rockley’s idea,’ Carina replied.

“Oh, him,” Mrs. Barnstaple said with a sniff. “Now, I hope, Miss Warner, you won’t take offence if I say to you that the less you see of that gentleman the better.”

“I thought that myself,” Carina answered.

Mrs. Barnstaple glanced towards the open door and lowered her voice.

“He’s bad. Miss Warner. I heard of him before he came to stay here and the moment he appeared I took all the young housemaids off his floor.”

“I should say that you were undoubtedly very wise,” Carina said.

“I know his sort,” Mrs. Barnstaple continued darkly, “and it isn’t only where women are concerned that he is dangerous either.”

“What do you mean?” Carina asked.

“Oh, you will learn a lot of things if you stay here long enough,” Mrs. Barnstaple said enigmatically. “I could tell you – ”

She stopped suddenly and Carina realised that one of the footmen had appeared in the doorway.

“Now where did I put that thermometer?” Mrs. Barnstaple cried. “Oh, I remember. Miss Matthews borrowed it for her Ladyship. Come along, Miss Warner, we will go and ask for it back. It’s always the same in this place, I can never keep a thing of my own. Borrow, borrow, borrow and nobody ever thinks of returning anything!”

She bustled towards the door like a ship in full sail and then appeared to see the footman for the first time.

“Well, James, what do you want?”

“Her Ladyship said to tell you that Mrs. Featherstonehaugh will be leavin’ by the afternoon train.”

“There, there’s a surprise,” Mrs. Barnstaple exclaimed. “I will tell Mildred to have her packing done at once.”

The footman went down the passage whistling. Mrs. Barnstaple waited until he was out of earshot and then turned to Carina.

“I did hear as how they were having words just after luncheon,” she said, “but I had no idea it would mean that she would have her boxes packed and get out. I thought she had her claws deep into his Lordship.”

There was no need for Mrs. Barnstaple to explain what she meant. Carina knew only too well. She had seen Mrs. Featherstonehaugh at luncheon flirting outrageously with Lord Lynche and making it clear to everyone at the table that he was her property.