‘I don’t think we’ll be staying at Warren House long enough to make new friends,’ Arabella said firmly. ‘It’s a pretty village, but my home is in Finsbury Square. We have a very large house, and heaven knows what the servants are doing in my absence.’

Chapter Sixteen

There seemed little prospect of returning home. Perry advised strongly against it and Monks was still on the run from the police. Until he was caught and imprisoned there was still danger, and they would have to remain at Warren House. Arabella grumbled, but Lady Lyndon was philosophical and Annie positively blossomed, especially when Perry was present.

Autumn had turned the countryside into a kaleidoscope of colour. The marshes were all shades of green and brown, and the leaves on the trees hung like golden coins, ready to be plucked by the next gale. Kate had ridden into Epping Forest on several occasions, sometimes with Perry and Annie, whom he was teaching to ride. Annie was an apt pupil and she revelled openly in the fact that the horse was her eyes, taking her to places where she would never have ventured on foot. Kate was touched by Perry’s gentleness and the protective way in which he treated Annie, while allowing her an amount of independence previously denied her. It was a pleasure to ride behind them, listening to Annie’s trills of laughter when Perry said something amusing, and his obvious pleasure in her company. Kate’s initial reaction had been one of pique, but that had faded almost instantly and she could see now that the couple were well suited. Whenever Perry arrived – which was every ten days or so – Kate always asked for news of Harry, and the answer never varied. Harry was still in prison and Monks was still at large, but the Metropolitan Police were working as hard as they could to bring him to justice.

Kate visited the vicarage at least twice a week to spend time with Hedley. On these occasions she was always accompanied by Jenny, who sat quietly at her side, listening to their reminiscence of India. At first Hedley seemed to enjoy their conversations, but sometimes he preferred to remain in his room, refusing to see anyone. Neither of his parents seemed able to cope with him when he was overtaken by deep depression. Kate could only sympathise and walk away. She had grown fond of Hedley during their short acquaintance, and she suspected that his condition was worsened by the fact that he was desperate to return to his regiment. His mother fussed over him constantly, and when Kate met the Reverend Humphrey Courtney she could understand why Hedley kept himself to himself.