‘Please would you do the honours with the Madeira, Archibald.’ Ann smiled and turned to Margaret who, as predicted, wore a black gown, buttoned tightly up to the neck and with a pearl brooch at her throat. ‘That is a pretty brooch, Margaret. How well it offsets the black.’

Margaret smiled at her friend and placed her hand on Ann’s sleeve. ‘I presume there is no more news?’ She looked Ann up and down, as if to ask if she would ever wear full mourning.

‘Nothing. Baxter continues to seek out information each day. Until then we must have hope.’

‘Here we are, ladies,’ said Archibald, handing his wife and Ann a glass of Madeira each.

‘Thank you.’ Ann turned to the four children at the window. ‘James and Lizzie, before you go to the nursery with the twins, you may hand round your shortbread.’

Lizzie ran to the table and picked up the plate of shortbread. James sat at the window seat, scowling.

‘James, go and help your sister, please!’ Ann turned to Margaret. ‘The children have helped Mrs Baxter in the kitchen this afternoon.’

James slouched across the room. He took the second plate of shortbread and handed it to Margaret.

‘This looks excellent. What an unusual idea having the children help in the kitchen. How terribly novel.’

‘It’s not for boys,’ James mumbled.

‘Nonsense, young man.’ Archibald said, wiping sugar from his lips. ‘I used to adore helping Cook with her baking. Nanny used to help too. We loved it. I used to help make bannocks and pancakes. My mamma said I made them better than Cook in fact.’

‘Is that old Mrs Donaldson?’

‘Lizzie, it is impolite to mention a lady’s age.’ Ann looked sternly at her daughter. ‘Yes, it is Dr Donaldson’s mother.’

James looked up at Archibald. ‘Pappa used to say cooking was for girls.’

‘Not at all. Girls are doing all sorts of things now. Good God, there is even a woman doctor practising in Edinburgh these days.’

‘Is there really?’ Ann’s eyes widened. ‘Lizzie, did you hear that? You might become a doctor one day, like Dr Donaldson.’

Lizzie ran over to them and beamed. ‘I’d like that.’

‘And so should I,’ Ann said, hugging her daughter. ‘Now off you children go upstairs. Take some shortbread up with you, if you like. Miss Graham is up there waiting with a new game.’ She caught James’s arm and drew him towards her to kiss him on the top of his head.

Margaret pursed her lips.

‘Ann, do you really think it a good idea for ladies to become doctors?’

‘Of course. If both my children ended up in medicine, I should be delighted.’

Margaret raised an eyebrow.

‘Dr Jex-Blake is not only the first lady doctor in Scotland, she also does something which more of my profession ought to,’ said Archibald. ‘She concentrates on helping the poor.’