Kate laughed and patted him on the shoulder. ‘No, they live with their mother and father in a cottage on the estate. If you see Ivy don’t tell her you saw them or they’ll be in trouble and so will Tilly. But that’s by the bye … I’ll take you to the kitchen and introduce you to Martha and her husband. She is a wonderful cook, so you’d better be nice to her if you want some tasty treats, and Arthur looks after the property. He may seem stern, but he’s a very nice person when you get to know him.’

‘So I’ll be working for Annie’s brother. Is that right, miss?’

‘We’ll have breakfast and then I’ll take you to the cottage where he lives. You’re both old soldiers, so I’m sure you’ll get along splendidly.’

‘I ain’t said I’m staying yet,’ Spears said gloomily. ‘I’m town born and bred. I don’t like the countryside.’

‘Everything looks better on a full stomach.’ Kate led the way to the kitchen where they were welcomed by the aroma of baking bread and sizzling bacon.

Spears sniffed appreciatively. ‘I ain’t smelled anything like that since me ma died twenty years ago.’

Martha looked up as they entered the room. ‘Miss Kate, it’s good to see you back, but who’s this?’

‘Martha, I want you to meet Augustus Spears. He’s going to work for Joe, or at least that’s the plan. I’ll have to see if Joe agrees.’

Martha looked him up and down. ‘I suppose you’ll be wanting to be fed then, Augustus. Or do I call you Gus?’

‘You calls me Mr Spears until we get to know each other better, Mrs, er … I didn’t catch your surname.’

‘It’s Boggis.’ Martha unhooked a side of bacon from the inglenook where it had been smoking gently for some months. She brandished a vicious-looking knife and sliced the bacon with a meaningful down stroke. ‘Don’t get cheeky with me, Gus. I’m the head of the kitchen, so unless you want the burned leftovers or things I don’t deem fit for the pigswill, you’d better show some respect.’

Kate tried not to laugh. The look on Spears’ face was so comical, and she could hear Tilly giggling in the scullery. ‘I’ll leave you two to get acquainted, but I’d appreciate some breakfast when it’s ready, Martha. We were up very early, and I want to introduce Augustus to Joe before he goes out on his rounds.’

Half an hour later Kate and Spears were on their way to Joe’s cottage.