I will not tolerate you treating me how my mother treated my father. That can only lead to disaster, which will be of your making.

Once we are married, you will never retire without me, unless I do not wish to come to your bed.

Mags drew in a gasp at this.

‘Are you all right, darling? Is there a problem?’

‘No – no, Daddy, I – I was just surprised that Harold says he has to be away until the day before our wedding. It – it’s all so sudden.’

‘Well, I don’t blame him, myself. These last two weeks are going to be very intense, with all the arrangements that have to be concluded, and you won’t have any time to give to anyone or anything, other than seeing that all the plans are in place and the dress fittings done, et cetera . . . Sensible man, I would say.’

Mags managed a little laugh, before continuing to read:

I thought we had cleared all of this up between us. And while we are talking about my expectations of you, I also expect your loyalty – no matter what you hear, I want you to believe me at all times. That silly and incompetent housekeeper of yours got some notion or other in her head, and behaved in an inappropriate way when she brought me up a brandy last night. Please inform her that in future she will only ever send a maid to my room and will not come herself. And to that end, I want you to engage a manservant to see to my needs.

Mags held her breath – Betsy. Oh, Betsy, no! In her heart, Mags instinctively knew that Harold had more than likely propositioned Betsy. If that was the case, she knew what Betsy’s reaction would have been. Harold’s words were simply trying to cover up his behaviour. Harold. Oh, Harold, why? Everything isn’t about your needs. Why can’t you accept that you cannot always have everything your own way?

A deep sigh escaped her. But not wishing to provoke questions from her father, she quickly covered them up. ‘Oh, Daddy, I wished Harold hadn’t had to leave, but I suppose you are right. I’ll throw myself into getting all my plans into place, and the time will pass quickly. Will you be all right going into the mill today? Because one of us should do so, in Harold’s absence. Only I would like to go and see Betsy. It’s her day off, and we could make sure that her little girls’ bridesmaid dresses fit properly, and shop for a frock for her.’

‘Yes, I will go in. Although much as I understand Harold wanting to escape all the marriage-preparation palaver, I do think he could have been more considerate about the arrangements we made for him to use this next week to acquaint himself with the mill.’

‘Yes, that is annoying. I’m sorry, Daddy.’

‘It’s not your fault, darling. You have a lot on your plate. And your mother would be pleased at how you have included the servants in your plans. Betsy will make a lovely maid of honour. She’s a striking young woman.’