The babies were due to be born in the middle of November and the nursery had been redecorated already and new furniture bought in readiness. Arabella had indulged in stacks of baby clothes – as William had said, it would take several sets of twins to use them all. Another battle – albeit a gentle, civilized one – was fought with Arabella over the matter of a nanny. Her mother-in-law couldn’t see how Rose could cope without one, especially with twins, and Rose was equally determined that she would look after the babies herself. Two cribs were already in place in her bedroom and Rose had stated she would keep the babies with her, at least for the first few months until they progressed to their own bedroom in the nursery suite. After much persuasion it was agreed that Rose would choose a nursery maid to help with the practicalities, although Arabella had scarcely been consoled by this compromise on Rose’s part.

‘My dear, I had the nanny and two nursery maids when Alexander was born,’ Arabella had said earnestly.

‘And I had no one when I had Betsy and coped perfectly well.’

‘But one feels so exhausted after having a child.’

‘Yes, that’s true, but bear in mind that as well as caring for Betsy I was keeping house. I shall be waited on hand and foot here, no doubt.’

‘You would still be able to see the babies whenever you like, my dear. I practically lived in the nursery for the first few years of Alexander’s life.’

‘Arabella, I’m sorry but I intend to bring my children up myself and Alexander agrees with me on this. We have discussed it at length.’

‘But twins, Rose.’

Rose had had to smile at the agonized note in her mother-in-law’s voice. ‘You have Betsy to thank for that. Apparently she has been praying for that very thing since Alexander and I got married.’

This was no comfort to Arabella but eventually they agreed that the engaging of a nursery maid would take place a few weeks before the babies were due, and that Rose would have sole choice in the matter.