‘I have to go to Finsbury Circus and make sure that Lady Lyndon is ready to make the move. Don’t worry, Ivy. When her ladyship and Annie arrive, Martha will be too busy taking care of them to bother about anything else.’

‘But you will come back later?’

‘Yes, I’ll travel with Lady Lyndon. I want to make sure she gets here safely.’

When Kate arrived at Lady Lyndon’s house in Finsbury Circus it was almost midday. Annie said that the servants had been rushing round for hours, packing things that Lady Lyndon was certain she would need. Kate stood by and watched the last of Lady Lyndon’s trunks and bandboxes being loaded onto a cart and she was impressed. Harry’s mother might seem to be a quiet, gentle person, but when stirred by the prospect of losing her precious belongings, she was as fierce as any battle-scarred general.

‘You must accompany us, Kate,’ Lady Lyndon said, wrapping a cape around her shoulders, even though it was a hot afternoon. ‘And, of course you will stay.’

‘Surely you don’t need me to be there,’ Kate protested.

‘I’ve avoided visiting that country cottage ever since my husband passed away. I barely know the housekeeper and her husband. I will be living amongst strangers.’

‘But, Aunt Margaret,’ Annie said hastily, ‘you’re taking Miss Hattersley with you, and Warrender will be on hand should you require his services. I’ll be with you, too.’

Lady Lyndon gave Annie an affectionate hug. ‘Yes, my dear. All of that is true, but I’m used to having a whole household at my command. I don’t know how we will live with just two servants. It all sounds very compromising to me.’

‘Ivy is there already and she will help you, as I said before.’ Kate took a deep breath. ‘And the older children are quite capable of doing jobs around the house or in the garden. They are used to working.’

‘Children?’ Lady Lyndon raised an elegant eyebrow. ‘How many?’

‘There are eight of them, but they are very well behaved.’ Kate waited for Lady Lyndon to raise a list of objections. If Martha Boggis disliked children, it seemed likely that her ladyship would feel the same, but Lady Lyndon was all smiles.

‘How delightful. I simply adore little ones, although older children can be tiresome at times. However, I might consider hiring a governess for them. If they can all read and write and do simple arithmetic it will help them to get better jobs in the future. I’ve missed having a baby to hold.’

Annie smiled and tucked her hand in the crook of Lady Lyndon’s arm. ‘Why are we wasting time here, Aunt Margaret? I think time spent in the country will benefit us all.’

‘You’ll travel with us, of course, Kate,’ Lady Lyndon said firmly. ‘Send your carriage home and we will enjoy the journey together.’