Kate followed him, not daring to look behind her. Harry was playing a dangerous game and she was eager to hear the full story, but she must carry on as if nothing had happened. She entered the church hall with a set smile on her face, but they were all so busy that no one appeared to notice her. She might as well have been invisible. It was tempting to leave now and follow Harry home, but Kate went back to her station at the refreshment table, curbing her impatience. She kept glancing at the large, white-faced clock on the wall, but it seemed as though the hands had ceased to move. However, eventually, when the tables were virtually bare of goods and all the cakes and jam tarts had been consumed, Elaine Courtney climbed onto the rostrum and thanked everyone for coming. She said the money had yet to be counted, but the local children were assured of a Christmas party to remember. She allowed her husband to hand her down amidst clapping and cheers from those who had not chosen to make a hasty retreat. Kate suspected that some items had been quietly pilfered, but as they had been donated free of charge it was not a great loss, and some of those attending looked more in need than the children for whom the money had been collected.

When they were tidying away the garments that had not sold, mainly because the ladies who had given them had put too high a price on the items, Kate suggested that perhaps it would be a good thing to make them into bundles to be distributed to the families whose wants were well known; many of whom were too proud to ask for charity. Elaine agreed, leaving the task to Kate and Martha, who knew everyone in the village and for miles around. Kate had spotted a woollen muffler and a man’s cap, which she thought would be suitable for Morrison, and it would give her an excuse to visit his cottage on the way home.

Lady Lyndon and Arabella were the first to leave. Kate was surprised when her mother did not raise any objection to riding in the carriage with Lady Lyndon, but they seemed to be on reasonably good terms, and they departed to a round of applause from those who were left to finish clearing the church hall. Kate, Ivy and the children had to wait for Goodfellow to return with the barouche. Kate climbed in last, having instructed Goodfellow to drop her just inside the gates of Warren House.

‘Why do you want to be set down so far from the house?’ Ivy asked, frowning.

‘I want to give the cap and muffler to Morrison. The mornings are getting colder and he’s an old man.’

‘I could send Frankie,’ Ivy suggested.