The move to Highfield Hall was accomplished with little trouble the next day, and by that evening Rose and Betsy were installed in one of the sumptuous guest suites boasted by the huge house. Arabella and William had welcomed them graciously but there had been real warmth in Arabella’s voice when she had taken Betsy off to show her the walled garden at the back of the house that had a big swing seat hanging from one of the trees. ‘This is where Alexander loved to play when he was a little boy,’ Arabella said. ‘He preferred it to the more formal gardens and so he had his own vegetable plot where he loved to grow flowers and strawberries and things like that, and the gardener made him a tree house that Alexander pretended was a fort.’

‘It’s lovely.’ Betsy gazed round. She hadn’t been in here before, although on previous visits she had explored the rest of the grounds which housed a special rose garden, various greenhouses and outhouses tucked well out of sight, and several ornamental areas with fountains and bowers and little grottos. A large lake with its own small landing stage and a selection of rowing boats shimmered in the distance, bordered on the far side by massive oak trees.

‘You could have this as your special garden if you like,’ Arabella said gently, touching the red curls as she spoke. ‘It could be just yours. Would you like that?’ She had fallen in love with this sweet little girl over the past months, and it was a cause of pain to her that William refused to open his heart to the child. She knew better than to make it an issue with her husband, though. William would merely dig his heels in. ‘You could bring Queenie here to play and once the door is shut she would be quite safe. It would give her a chance to get used to her new surroundings with you. What do you think?’

Betsy nodded. The high stone walls of the garden were covered in a mass of climbing roses and clematis, and the scent of the flowers was rich in the still air. ‘I think Queenie would like it here,’ she said seriously. The little cat was shut in their new quarters for the present and had objected to her lack of liberty. ‘But would Uncle Alexander mind if this was his own garden once?’

‘We can ask him but I know what he will say. He will be delighted.’

Betsy smiled up at the lady she always thought was sad inside. She didn’t know why she thought this but it made her like Alexander’s mother even more. ‘Will you come here with me and Queenie?’

‘Do you want me to?’