‘I’m sorry, but I really have to leave. Ivy and the children are depending on me to take them to a place of safety, so perhaps we could have this conversation at a more appropriate time?’

‘I take it that means no to my offer of marriage.’

‘Don’t put words into my mouth, Perry. I imagine most young women would ask for time to consider such a proposal, especially if it were flung at them so unexpectedly, and so early in the morning.’

‘Now you’re laughing at me.’

She laid her hand on his arm. ‘No, I am not. I’m very flattered and conscious of the honour you do me …’

He held up his hand. ‘Don’t say any more. I’ve made a fool of myself. I see that now.’ Perry strode to the door and opened it. ‘I don’t know what happened to you in India, but you aren’t the same person you were. You’ve changed, Kate. And not for the better.’

‘Then I’m even more surprised that you want to marry me.’ Kate marched past him and ran down the steps to the waiting carriage.

The older children were bubbling with excitement when the barouche drew up outside Warren House, but Ivy was pale and nervous.

‘What if the housekeeper don’t like nippers, Kate? Did you warn her that we was a large number?’

Kate opened the carriage door without waiting for the coachman to climb down from his box. Frankie and Nellie leaped out first, followed more slowly by May and Jimmy, leaving Kate to help the twins to the ground. Charlie teetered on the top step but Kate caught him before he fell and Ivy clambered out with baby John clutched in her arms.

‘Calm down, children.’ Ivy sighed. ‘Remember your manners or we might get thrown out onto the street, and we’d have to live off grass like cows.’

‘We’ll go round to the back of the house,’ Kate said firmly. ‘The children can run round for a while and I’ll tell Mr and Mrs Boggis that we’re here.’ She turned to the coachman. ‘I won’t be long, Goodfellow.’

‘You heard what Kate said.’ Ivy rounded up her excited flock, leaving Kate to show them the way.

Let loose in the flower meadow that had once been a lawn, the children gambolled around like lambs, while Ivy perched on a low balustrade. ‘I’ll wait here, where I can keep an eye on them, miss.’

‘I won’t be long.’ Kate made her way to the kitchen, where, as expected, she found Martha. ‘Good morning, Martha. I know it’s early but I have a surprise for you.’

‘Is Lady Lyndon with you, miss?’