‘We must have been travelling half the night,’ Arabella said crossly. She gazed at the dark shape of Warren House with the moonlight caressing its roof and reflecting playfully off the top-storey windows. ‘This is the back of beyond, Kate. Why have you brought me here?’

‘We’ll be safe from people who wish us harm, Mama.’ Kate rapped on the knocker. She could only hope that Arthur Boggis might venture through the maze of passages to open the front door.

‘The house looks deserted,’ Arabella muttered. ‘It’s probably haunted.’

Jenny clutched Kate’s arm. ‘You don’t think there are ghosts and ghouls in there, do you?’

‘Of course not.’ Kate knocked again, and this time she could hear footsteps on the flagstone floor. ‘Someone’s coming. Thank goodness for that.’

The door opened and a shaft of lamplight quivered in the darkness. ‘Who’s there?’ Arthur’s voice boomed out into the night.

‘It’s me, Arthur,’ Kate said hastily. ‘Miss Martin. I’ve brought my mother with me, and my maid. Sir Harry wishes us to stay here for a while.’

‘Sir Harry?’ Arabella poked her daughter in the ribs. ‘Who is Sir Harry, Kate?’

‘I’ll explain later.’ Kate ushered her mother into the house, stepping in after her, followed by Jenny.

Goodfellow hefted the first of the trunks into the entrance hall. ‘Give us a hand, cully?’

‘I’m the caretaker here. We haven’t got a footman, you’ll have to manage on your own – cully!’ Arthur turned his back on Goodfellow. ‘This is a bit unexpected, Miss Martin. Martha likes to have a bit of warning so she can get a room prepared. We have other guests, as you well know.’

‘I’m sure we can manage just for tonight,’ Kate said hastily. ‘I don’t mind sharing with my maid, but my mother is recently widowed and today was my father’s funeral. I would like her to have one of the best rooms.’

‘Well, if you put it like that, miss, I’ll see what I can do.’ Arthur lit a candle, which was placed in readiness on a carved wooden chest. He handed a brass candlestick to Kate. ‘I’ll go and tell Martha that you’re here.’

‘I can give Ivy a hand to get the beds made up.’ Jenny proffered her arm to Arabella. ‘If you’d care to lean on me, your ladyship, I remember where the drawing room is situated. I expect you’ll find company there.’

‘Company?’ Arabella turned to Kate, her eyes blazing. ‘You didn’t mention that we would have to share the accommodation with anyone. Really, Kate, this is too bad. We’ll leave first thing in the morning.’

Goodfellow came to a standstill with a heavy box balanced on his shoulders. He looked to Kate for instruction. ‘In or out, miss?’