‘I said so, didn’t I? Don’t stand there looking pleased about it, you daft bat. Take the dog inside and come now!’ Ellen ran off, leaving Gina to do as she was told. Normally Gina would have taken her time to follow any instructions Ellen gave her, but she was eager to see the flood and hurried Coco in through the door to the downstairs corridor, quickly towelling him dry and wiping his feet.

‘Come on, Coco,’ she said, running up the stairs to the main hall. ‘This is something I can’t wait to see.’

She ran along to the conservatory where her mother, Ellen and Uncle Tom, all wearing wellingtons and macs, were sweeping what looked like gallons of water out through the French doors into the garden, while, almost as quickly, rain poured in through the roof to replenish the flood.

‘Heck …’ said Gina, admiring the chaos.

‘Gina, take the dog away, and go and put on your mac and wellies,’ said Tom calmly. ‘Then come back as quickly as you can and you can help Nell to move these chairs and the pots out of the way.’

‘Yes, Uncle Tom.’

She turned to go and almost bumped into Mrs Thwaite.

‘Out of my way and do as you’re told, girl,’ snapped the housekeeper, which made Gina decide not to hurry. ‘I’ve telephoned the handyman in Great Grindle,’ she said to Tom. ‘He should be here soon to assess the job of making the roof watertight again.’

‘Good. We’ll get rid of as much water as we can and clear a space for him to work in,’ Tom replied. ‘No, Mrs Thwaite, don’t you come in here, in those shoes …’

But Mrs Thwaite had foolishly tiptoed into the conservatory in her leather-soled shoes, intent on taking some chair cushions to safety, and at once her feet slipped from under her.

‘Aah!’ She went down hard on the floor, a gigantic splash of rainwater making a mini tidal wave around Tom, Dora and Ellen’s boots. ‘Oh, my arm! My arm!’ she screamed, rolling onto her back in agony in the floodwaters.

Tom, Dora and Ellen left their brooms and buckets and rushed over to help the wailing woman, trying to get her to sit up.

‘I’ll get Mrs Stellion,’ said Gina, and ran off to the morning room, Coco, on his lead, racing beside her, barking excitedly.

Oh, but this was amazing! Gina wished she had a moment to think it all through, but she needed to act quickly and do as she was told, while events were playing entirely into her hands.

Edith Stellion was in the morning room as usual, keeping out of the way of the flood.

‘Ah, Gina, there you are. Bad news, I’m afraid. Rain is coming in through the conservatory roof. I’ve just telephoned my husband to tell him and he’s coming home straight away.’