Gradually Parker caught up with all the gossip he’d missed since his father died. Mr Rupert would want to know all that had been going on while he was away, not just what his pa and ma decided to tell him. Even Mr Justin might not tell all, though, thought Parker; Mr Rupert’ll be more than interested that Mr Justin has finally offered for Miss Kitty. Once they started a family, that would be an end to any thoughts Mr Rupert might have had about inheriting his pa’s title. He’d always said he didn’t want it, that his brother was welcome to it, but Parker wasn’t so sure. When it came down to it, Mr Rupert might regret its loss.

By the time he and Fortune lifted the trunk and the valise into the trap, Parker was carrying three letters to his master. All, he thought, probably telling him the same news, but all with a different slant on things. As they were about to leave, Miss Frances came running out of the house and waved at Fortune to wait.

‘Thank goodness I caught you, Parker. Please will you take this letter to my brother? Tell him all is well here and give him my love.’

‘Of course, Miss Frances,’ he replied, and taking the letter, he stowed it with the others in the wallet he carried strapped to his waist. ‘I’ll give it to him as soon as I get there. I know he’ll be eager for news from home.’ It took Parker longer than he had anticipated to travel from the West Country to the port of Dover, and after a rather bumpy crossing to Calais, where he spent a night at an inn, he caught the train to Paris. He reached St Etienne in the early evening and found a carrier to transport the luggage to its destination at Le Coq d’Argent. When he reached the inn he discovered that Rupert was out, but he took another room and had the trunk and valise carried up there. Then he walked out into the Place, found himself a cheap café and had something to eat. It was a warm summer evening and he lingered over an extra glass of wine before turning his steps back to Le Coq d’Argent. As he walked towards the front door, a chaise drew up outside and Parker saw the familiar figure of Rupert Chalfont step down into the street.

Rupert caught sight of him and paused on the threshold.

‘Parker!’ he cried. ‘You’re here. Have you brought my traps? We may be here for a longish stay.’

‘Yes, sir. As you weren’t here, Mr Rupert, I took the liberty of taking another room here at the inn and had your luggage placed safely in there while I went out to get something to eat.’

‘Good man,’ replied Rupert. ‘Let’s get it moved to my rooms and see what you’ve brought.’

A porter was called and within minutes the heavy cases were brought down from the room on the third floor that had been assigned to the gentleman’s gentleman and carried into the suite hired by the gentleman himself.