‘Will she attend the funeral, I wonder?’ mused Lady Blake. ‘In our family it is not the custom for the ladies to attend funerals, it is left to the gentlemen to show that respect, so I shall not be there; however, I know that Katharine, despite our wishes on the matter, intends to be present.’

At that moment the door opened and Kitty came in. She was dressed in deep mourning, which a detached part of Rupert noticed suited her well. Her face was very pale, but she greeted him with an attempt at a smile, which didn’t quite reach her eyes.

‘Rupert!’ she said as she crossed the room to greet him. ‘How very kind of you to come. I’m so glad you managed to get here in time for the funeral.’

‘I was just telling Rupert, my dear, that you are intending to go to Justin’s funeral on Friday, despite your father and I feeling it is not quite proper for you to appear in public so soon.’

‘As I’ve told you, Mama,’ responded Kitty, ‘I shall only go to the church. I shall wear a heavy veil and no one shall see my face. I have no intention of meeting with other people after the service, but shall return here immediately.’ It was clear from the resignation in her voice that she and her mother had already had this conversation more than once and that she was not going to change her mind.

Lady Blake sighed and said, ‘Well, I suppose you will do as you please, but I don’t know what Sir Philip and Lady Chalfont will think – nor you, Rupert, for that matter.’

‘Kitty must do as she thinks best,’ replied Rupert. ‘But I’m sure you know, Kitty, that you will be more than welcome at the church.’

Lady Blake said no more on that subject, but getting to her feet, she said, ‘Kitty, my dear, please ring the bell and ask Campbell to bring us some refreshment. I have to speak to Mrs Carson, but will be back with you directly.’ Campbell came in answer to the bell, and Lady Blake gave him her orders and then left the room, leaving Rupert and Kitty alone together.

Kitty took a seat by the window and invited Rupert to do the same.

‘I’m sorry I’ve only just got home,’ Rupert said. ‘It must be a very difficult time for you.’

‘And for you,’ returned Kitty. ‘He was your brother, after all.’ She gave him another smile and said, ‘And everything seems to have fallen on poor Fran’s shoulders. She must be extremely glad to have you home again.’

Rupert smiled back as he said, ‘Yes, I think she is, with all the arrangements that have had to be made. Still, I’m here to take some of the load now and to comfort my parents in their grief.’

‘I believe you were in France,’ Kitty said. ‘Justin told me that you’d been invited to a wedding.’