‘I’m sure that Lady Lyndon can keep them in order.’ Kate led the way through a maze of wainscoted passages that ended in a wide, oak-panelled entrance hall. Sunlight streamed through the lattice windows, creating diamond patterns on the polished floorboards. A heavily carved oak chest stood against one wall and a huge stone fireplace occupied most of the opposite side of the hall. Kate could imagine a blaze roaring up the chimney in winter, but now, in high summer, the grate was filled with greenery placed in a large copper pot.

‘It seems that Martha is as good as her word.’ Kate ran her finger along the top of the mantelshelf. ‘No dust here.’

‘Let’s see the rest of the house then,’ Jenny said, shrugging. ‘I doubt if it’s like this everywhere.’

They explored several rooms on the ground floor, including a book-lined study, a morning parlour and a dining room large enough to hold a ball. Without exception all were comfortably, if not fashionably furnished, and so clean that Jenny said she could eat off the floor in all of them. The drawing room was scented with roses from a bowl spilling pink petals on the top of a mahogany side table. The furniture was old-fashioned but it was set out as if expecting guests to enjoy its undoubtedly comfortable, if out-dated style. Kate could imagine ladies in sack-back gowns seated at the small ornately carved tables, playing hands of whist or three-card loo.

‘She’s right,’ Jenny said in a low voice. ‘The place is so spotless it looks as if the family still live here.’

‘Maybe the ghosts of the Lyndons do haunt this house.’

Jenny shuddered. ‘Don’t say that. We’ve got to go upstairs now.’

‘Don’t be a baby. I was teasing you.’ Kate squeezed Jenny’s cold hand. ‘The house has a very warm and welcoming atmosphere. I’m sure that Lady Lyndon and Annie will be very happy here – if I can persuade them to leave London.’

‘I’m not sure I’d want to live this far from the city.’ Jenny glanced nervously over her shoulder.

‘You can stay here and I’ll go upstairs if you’re scared.’ Kate went to the door and opened it. ‘I really like what I’ve seen so far.’

‘Don’t leave me. I’m coming.’ Jenny hurried after her and they crossed the hall to the wide oak staircase, its treads polished to a satin sheen after more than a century and a half of footfall.

There were six large family bedchambers on the first floor, all with their own dressing rooms, and at least eight good-sized rooms on the second floor, with the servants’ sleeping accommodation on the top floor. Kate could not find fault anywhere, and it was clear that Martha Boggis had been telling the truth when she said she kept the house as if the family were still in residence.