Kate walked over to the washstand and filled the bowl with water from the ewer. ‘I can see this isn’t going to be easy, Jenny.’

Kate entered the kitchen expecting to face an irate Martha, but instead she was greeted by a broad smile.

‘I’ve found something to keep them nippers out of my way, miss.’ Martha said, chuckling.

‘That was very clever of you. They’re good children but they’re used to working. I don’t think a life of idleness would suit them.’

‘As I said to Arthur, the devil finds work for idle hands. I’ve set them to work in the garden. Morrison is getting too old and rheumaticky to do the job properly. I saw to it the nippers had a good breakfast and the older ones went off as if it was a game to them.’

‘What about Ivy and the other children?’

‘Ivy’s in the stillroom using the rose petals that the nippers have collected. She said she knows how to make rose water and skin cream. She might know how to make perfumed soap, too. Carbolic is good enough for us country folk, but her ladyship has other ideas. I had to tell her that the village shop don’t sell them fancy soaps and fragrances. Ever so disappointed she was.’

‘I’m sure she can live without such luxuries,’ Kate said, smiling.

‘Anyway, that’s enough of that. Lady Lyndon is in the dining room having breakfast. The bacon and buttered eggs will still be hot, if you care to join her. I’ll make some more toast.’

Feeling like a schoolgirl dismissed from class, Kate murmured assent and left the kitchen to make her way to the dining room, where to her astonishment she found Annie sitting at the table with baby John on her lap, while Charlie entertained Lady Lyndon with his attempts to hold a conversation.

‘Kate, my dear. Do help yourself to some breakfast. Annie and I have finished but we are being entertained by Charlie and the baby. Annie definitely has a way with little ones.’

Annie dropped a kiss on top of baby John’s head. ‘He’s so sweet and he loves music. He was crying earlier and then I played a tune on my concertina and he was all smiles.’

‘Everyone seems to have settled in so well,’ Kate said, helping herself to bacon and buttered eggs from a silver breakfast dish on the sideboard. ‘It feels as if the old house has woken up after a long sleep.’