‘Thank you, Giles. We always enjoy dining with you. Pomeroy Park is a beautiful house, Arabella.’

Kate did not wait to hear the rest of the conversation. She was pleased, although slightly surprised, by her mother’s obvious attraction to Giles Pomeroy-Smith. Although Mama was officially still in deep mourning, perhaps meeting someone new was exactly what she needed. Burying one’s heart in the grave might sound romantic, but Kate wanted her mother to be happy, and if Giles was the man who could make her mother smile again, he was heaven sent. Kate made her way to the kitchen where she found Martha brandishing a carving knife at Frankie, who had jam smeared all round his mouth.

‘What’s the matter, Martha?’

Martha bristled like an angry hedgehog. ‘That young monkey has been stealing the jam tarts. I made them special, like, because I know that Goodfellow has a fancy for them.’

‘You do make delicious pastry, Martha,’ Kate said diplomatically. ‘And your strawberry jam is the best I’ve ever tasted.’

‘Yes,’ Frankie murmured, nodding. ‘I’m sorry, Mrs Boggis. I gave way to temptation.’

‘Just like your pa did, I suppose.’ Martha glared at him. ‘That’s what landed him in the clink, boy. That’s where you’ll end up if you carry on like that.’

‘I burned me mouth on the hot jam.’ Frankie’s blue eyes filled with tears. ‘I’m very sorry.’

‘There, you see, Martha. Frankie has had his punishment. A burned tongue is very painful, and he’s apologised twice.’

Martha tossed her head. ‘Serve him right. That’s what I say. He can help by taking the rest of these platters into the dining room, and heaven help him if he pinches any more food.’

‘I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen.’ Kate picked up a dish of cold meats and handed it to Frankie, safe in the knowledge that he had a sweet tooth. ‘You take that one, Frankie, and I’ll take the salver of cold roast beef and lamb.’ She ushered him out of the kitchen before Martha could think up a more suitable punishment.

With the food safely delivered to the dining table, Kate sent Frankie to the stables to help Bob with the guests’ horses. Frankie had shown promise as a groom and Goodfellow had been more than happy to teach him the rudiments of grooming and tacking up. Such training would serve him well if and when the family returned to London. There was always work to be found in stables, both private and commercial. So far there had been no news of Ted’s release from prison, although Perry promised he would keep them informed. He was due to arrive at any moment and Kate could only hope that he might have something positive to tell Ivy.