Once in the carriage Alexander put his head back against the upholstered seat and shut his eyes, and as the two horses clip-clopped their way out of town, Rose and Betsy talked quietly together. Rose so appreciated what she saw as diminishing time with her daughter. One day Betsy would go away to train as a nurse, she was determined about that, but for the moment she was still at home and Rose tried to make the most of every minute with her. Betsy had grown into a beautiful girl and now she was on the cusp of womanhood, Rose thought fondly; Davey would have been so proud of her. She could see Davey in their daughter’s big brown eyes and she had his caring, gentle nature. She would make a fine nurse.

They had left Consett and were only a few hundred yards from the entrance of the estate when Rose became aware of the carriage drawing to a halt and Hammond clambering down from his seat. She put her head out of the window. ‘What is it?’

‘There looks to be a soldier lying at the side of the road, ma’am. I’d better see what’s what.’

Alexander was dozing, his head lolling, and signalling for Betsy not to wake him, Rose opened the door and stepped down onto the dusty country road, Betsy right behind her. The valet had just reached the prone figure when something, some deep dark instinct born of self-preservation that came from the subconscious rather than the conscious mind, made Rose call out, ‘Hammond, stop,’ but it was too late.

The figure on the ground moved, there was a shot and then Hammond crumpled as Nathaniel sprang to his feet. He was holding a rifle that had been concealed under his body and now it was pointing at Rose and Betsy. Rose froze for a split second before pulling Betsy behind her. As Alexander called out, ‘What’s going on?’ she shouted, ‘Alexander, stay inside,’ but he was already climbing down from the carriage.

Nathaniel moved towards them, stopping a few yards away. His lip curling, he said, ‘Oh, he wouldn’t do that, would you, Major? He’s the great war hero, losing an arm an’ all.’

Alexander was at Rose’s side now and Nathaniel’s eyes had narrowed into blue slits. ‘I suggest you don’t take another step, Major, unless you want your head blown off.’

‘What do you want?’ Alexander’s voice was cool. ‘Money? I’ve a few pounds on me.’

‘Is that your answer to everything, money? But then it bought you her, didn’t it. Perhaps you’d like to introduce me to your husband?’ he added, looking at Rose. ‘It’s about time.’