‘I’ve had enough of this outburst,’ Sir Bartholomew said firmly. ‘If my daughter invited you to dine, then you are a welcome guest, sir. But if you can’t behave like a civilised human being I will have to ask you to leave.’

‘I apologise if I have done anything to make you feel uncomfortable, Mr Spears,’ Kate said hastily. ‘If you would rather not stay I’m sure we will all understand.’

Spears shrugged and drew himself up to his full height. ‘Apology accepted. I will stay because you owe me a dinner after that long walk from Cable Street.’

‘Do take a seat, Mr Spears.’ Kate beckoned to Henry, who had been standing stiffly to attention, his face a mask of self-control. ‘I’m sure that our guest would like a glass of sherry wine.’

‘Brandy,’ Spears said firmly. ‘I don’t drink that fancy stuff – it’s only fit for old ladies.’

Arabella had raised her glass to her lips, but she replaced it on the drum table at her side. ‘When you’ve given Mr Spears a drink, go to the kitchen and see if dinner is ready, Henry. We’ll eat earlier than usual.’

Harold went to sit beside Spears on the sofa. ‘You seem troubled, my friend. Is there anything you would like to share with me?’

Spears edged away from him. ‘I come for good grub, not a sermon.’ He grabbed the glass of brandy from Henry and knocked it back in one gulp. ‘Call that a tot? Give me a proper measure, mate.’

Henry took the crystal goblet and poured a generous measure from one of the decanters on a side table. He handed it back to Spears, but Kate could tell from Henry’s tight-lipped expression that he was exercising all his training in self-control.

‘Go now, Henry,’ Kate said in a low voice. ‘Ask Cook to hurry dinner along, if at all possible.’

Henry left the room at a dignified pace, as if determined to emphasise his position in the household being above that of the ill-mannered intruder. Kate avoided meeting her mother’s angry gaze; she knew that she was in for a cross-examination when their guests had gone.

She was not looking forward to dinner, but it went better than she expected. Spears sat in silence with his head bent over his food and he demolished everything that was put in front of him with apparent enjoyment. Harold kept up a monologue, talking about his past experiences as a missionary in Africa before he decided to return to London. Kate was beginning to think she would rather be trampled on by a herd of elephants than to sit through another meal listening to the new curate, when Spears pushed his plate away and rose to his feet.