Jinny had held Rose’s hand throughout, and it was she who told her mistress that she was the mother of two fine lads. Once the nurse and Jinny had washed the infants and made Rose comfortable in a fresh nightdress and bedding, they placed the boys in her arms, and as though by magic their grizzling stopped and they went to sleep. It was then that Rose heard a pounding on the stairs outside and the next moment the door was flung open and Alexander stood in the aperture.

He stared at the tableau in the bed, unable to speak or move for the wonder of it, and it was Rose, her face alight, who murmured, ‘Alexander, my darling, come and meet your sons.’

It was midnight of the same day and Rose was lying in Alexander’s arms in their big bed. Her husband was fast asleep but in spite of her exhaustion, Rose found she couldn’t drift off. She had napped on and off for most of the day but now, when the rest of the household was at rest, she was wide awake. She lay thinking about the events of the last twenty-four hours, picture after picture flashing through her mind.

Alexander’s face when he had seen his sons and held them for the first time. Betsy, almost delirious with joy at having two baby brothers. Arabella, beside herself with relief that all was well and crying unashamedly as she held her grandsons. William, uncharacteristically mellow, saying that she had done Alexander proud, although, as Alexander had pointed out, he himself had had something to do with it. There had been more tears of joy from Amy when Alexander had sent his father’s valet – the family chauffeur having long since signed up – to pick Rose’s friend up for an hour or so, knowing Rose would love to see her. And Jinny, Jinny had been marvellous, Rose thought. She had let Betsy help her change the babies and give them a pap bottle each until Rose’s milk was in, and the friendship between her daughter and the nursery maid that Rose had noticed over the last two weeks had been further strengthened, which was good for Betsy. She needed someone to talk to closer to her own age in this house.