It was only a short ride to Warren House, but Kate was eager for it to end, and she alighted the moment the barouche came to a halt. She waited until the carriage passed her before walking off in the direction of the gardener’s cottage on the far side of the grounds.

Morrison answered her knock on the door. ‘I was expecting you, miss. The master is in the front parlour.’

‘Thank you, Morrison.’ Kate handed him the bundle. ‘I thought these might help to keep you warm when it gets colder – I noticed that your muffler is a little threadbare.’

His eyes filled with tears. ‘I ain’t had a present since me wife passed away ten year since. Thank you, miss. Much appreciated, I’m sure.’

Kate smiled. ‘You’re a very important member of staff, Morrison. You’ve done wonders in the garden, especially now you have more help.’

‘I can’t thank you enough for hiring the extra men, miss. My old back ain’t what it used to be, but I’ve got a lifetime of gardening knowledge, I just haven’t got the strength I used to have.’

‘But your experience is invaluable, Morrison. I’m sure Sir Harry has told you that often enough.’

‘He was always a good lad, even when he was very young.’

‘His presence must be kept secret. No one must know, not even Lady Lyndon.’

‘Wild horses wouldn’t drag the truth out of me, miss.’

Kate smiled as she entered the small front parlour. Its shabby furnishings and peeling wallpaper matched Harry’s scruffy appearance, although she could tell that he had attempted to wash some of the prison grime from his hands and face.

‘Well, you look a sorry sight, Sir Harry Lyndon,’ Kate said, laughing.

‘Thank you, Kate. That makes me feel very much better.’

‘I think you need a change of clothes. Do you keep any at the house?’

‘Yes, that’s one thing I was going to ask you to do for me. You’ll find a large clothes press in my dressing room, which is off the master bedroom. Who sleeps there now?’

‘I do, but I haven’t bothered to look closely at what’s in the smaller room. I’m usually so tired that I fall into bed at night and go straight to sleep.’

‘You’re sleeping in my bed, Kate,’ Harry said with a wry smile.

She turned away, uncomfortably aware that she was blushing. ‘It’s very comfortable,’ she said in an attempt to sound casual. ‘But never mind that. What do you want me to bring you?’

‘A couple of changes of clothing will do. I’ll come round to the back of the house at midnight. I know the servants go to bed early and I doubt if anyone else will be up and about at that time. If you could fill a valise with my things I’d be your slave for ever.’