As Hélène came in, Lizette looked up, startled, dropping the poker with a clatter. ‘Lizette,’ Hélène said. ‘Where is Madame Sauze?’

Colour and confusion flooded the maid’s face and she said, ‘I think she’s upstairs, Miss Hélène. Sorting things out.’

‘Sorting things out?’ repeated Hélène. ‘What sort of things?’

The girl looked near to tears as she replied, ‘I don’t know, miss. I don’t know.’

Realising that she was going to get nothing more from the maid, Hélène said, ‘Then I’ll go and find her.’ She left the kitchen and climbed the back stairs to the servants’ quarters. As she neared the top she could hear someone moving about, and as she reached the landing Madame Sauze emerged from one of the rooms. She stopped abruptly when she saw Hélène.

‘Miss Hélène,’ she exclaimed. ‘You shouldn’t be up here!’

‘I came to find you,’ replied Hélène. ‘I came to ask you why Annette’s been taken away in the waggon. Where’s she gone? Who was that woman with her? She looked ill. Has she gone to have her baby?’

Agathe drew a deep breath. ‘All these questions, Miss Hélène,’ she said as her brain raced to provide answers she could give. Madame St Clair had already been apprised of the events of last night, and it was she who had insisted that Annette should be removed as soon as possible to Madame Leclerc’s house. Agathe had no idea of the explanations her mistress would give to Hélène, but she did know that she would want to be the one breaking the news to her daughter. She wouldn’t thank her housekeeper for taking that duty. Agathe was well aware of Madame St Clair being particularly protective of her daughter and, understanding why, had no wish to interfere.

‘When you have a baby, it is best to have a midwife with you,’ she said cautiously. ‘Madame Leclerc, the woman who went with her, is the midwife from the village. She’s going to take care of her.’

‘I see.’ Hélène looked relieved. ‘That’s all right then.’

Later, when Hélène had a chance to speak with her mother about Annette, Rosalie had already decided that she was not going to tell the family of the happenings in the night. The baby’s death was sad, but really nothing to do with her or her family, and she was determined that nothing should spoil the further celebrations of Clarice’s wedding. Hélène would be going to her first society ball, and she was determined that nothing should tarnish that special moment for her. Louise was angry that she was considered too young to be allowed to attend. She had been thrilled to be a bridesmaid, making her an important participant at the wedding, and thought she should have been invited to the ball at Montmichel.

‘I’m the only one of the family not going!’ she fumed. ‘It’s not fair!’ But her mother had remained adamant. ‘You’re too young, chérie,’ she’d said. ‘Even Hélène isn’t formally out yet and you certainly are not.’