‘Aye, it does. I’m sorry to hear of the lady’s death. She wasn’t my particular friend, but I saw no harm in her. I shall mention it to Gina tomorrow. She’s the one to raise it with Mrs S. I can hardly go barging in with the news and upsetting folk. I wonder Mrs Bassett didn’t mention it. I thought they used to be friends of a sort, but mebbe I read it wrong.’

‘Mrs Thwaite dead?’ Gina said.

Dora could see she was trying to compose her face into something resembling solemnity, but a smile was definitely playing at the corners of her mouth.

‘Gina, you needn’t look so pleased about it,’ Dora snapped before, God forbid, Gina shamed her by breaking into the laughter that was so obviously threatening. ‘For goodness’ sake, Eliza Thwaite was an employee of this house, just the same as we are, and worked here for a lot longer than you have. Have a bit of respect, lass, and try for once to behave in the right way.’ Dora was shocked and furious at Gina’s suppressed mirth. What could possibly be funny? Sometimes the girl just didn’t know when she had overstepped the mark. How had she raised a daughter who could be so heartless?

They were in the little library, where Dora had taken her cleaning things and then quietly asked Gina if she’d come in. She had planned to break the news to her privately, then maybe speak herself to Mrs Bassett while Gina told Mrs Stellion. Now she wasn’t at all sure she could trust Gina to act appropriately.

‘Sorry, Mum,’ said Gina, composing herself. ‘It must be the shock. I’d better tell Mrs Stellion.’

‘Not if you’re going to laugh you hadn’t. You’ll upset her terribly.’ Dora sighed heavily. ‘What is it, Gina? Did you have summat against the woman?’

‘Mum, she was housekeeper here and now I am – what could I possibly have against her? It was only a short time when we were both here … before her accident.’

Dora gave Gina a long look. ‘So, are you going to tell Mrs Stellion nicely, assuming she doesn’t know already, which I reckon she can’t or she’d have said summat?’

‘Yes, I’ll tell her.’

‘Then make sure you do it properly and that you’re kind to her.’

‘Yes, Mum.’

Mrs Stellion was indeed upset, especially to hear that Mrs Thwaite was not only dead, but to realise that her sister hadn’t written to tell her former employer, and the funeral had taken place without the Stellions’ knowledge.