Arabella shrugged her smooth shoulders as she extricated her arm from his. ‘I don’t like half the guests who frequent this house, Alexander, but one has to make sacrifices. It might interest you to know that your father and one or two other men of influence in the district are putting pressure on Enoch to improve the living accommodation he provides for the men who work for him. But one has to tread carefully with such individuals.’

‘I’d tread carefully with him all right, with my boot up his backside.’ But Alexander was mollified somewhat. He dropped a light kiss on his mother’s exquisitely styled hair. Her maid must have spent hours arranging it. ‘Go and see to your little flock of followers,’ he said indulgently, knowing she was queen bee in her social circle and loved it. ‘I’ll see you at breakfast.’

‘Really, darling, you make me sound like a shepherdess,’ she said, before turning after she had walked a step or two and adding, ‘It’s lovely to have you home, Alexander.’

He knew she meant it and on impulse he reached out and took her in his arms for a moment or two, hugging her carefully because of her elaborate dress as he said, ‘I’m sorry I missed Christmas and New Year but it was unavoidable.’

‘But you’re here now,’ she said softly, kissing him on his cheek as he let her go. ‘And I’m going to get Cook to fatten you up a little. You’re too thin.’

‘Army food.’