‘I’m not jealous of you, you little madam! At least I came by my work honestly—’

‘Girls, be quiet, the pair of you. We’ve all had a trying day and I won’t have the evening spoiled by you sniping at each other.’ Whatever Dora’s suspicions, she had to take on trust Gina’s account of how her new position had come about, though she secretly felt put out that Gina was now her superior at the Hall.

‘So Mrs Thwaite’s arm is broken?’ Ellen asked.

‘Yes. Mr S came back while me and Mrs S were talking about my room at the Hall and told us both so.’

‘Room at the Hall?’ gasped Ellen.

‘Yes, I’m going to have two empty rooms in the attic, where it will be nice and peaceful. One will be a bedroom and the other will be turned into my sitting room,’ said Gina, beaming at her sister. ‘I have the use of Mrs Thwaite’s bathroom downstairs.’

‘Good grief,’ said Ellen flatly. ‘I think I’ve heard it all now.’

‘Of course, I couldn’t have Mrs Thwaite’s comfy rooms just yet, in case she comes back.’

‘What do you mean?’ asked Dora, looking stricken. ‘The poor woman’s not at death’s door, is she? I thought you said it was just a broken arm.’

‘It is, but badly broken. She’s going to be in hospital for a few days and then she’s going to stay with her sister, who lives in Great Grindle, Mr S said. He wonders if Mrs Thwaite might want to retire. She’s getting on in years and it’ll mebbe be a while before she fully recovers.’

‘Well, you needn’t sound so pleased about it, Gina,’ said Dora. ‘It’s not decent to be glad about other folk’s misfortunes.’

‘Whose misfortunes?’ asked Philip, coming in on the tail end of the news, dripping rainwater and smelling of the farmyard.

The three women related to him the story of the flood, Mrs Thwaite’s accident and Gina’s extraordinary promotion from dog walker to housekeeper.

‘Well, I’m blessed,’ he declared when they’d finished.

That’s a first, thought Gina.

‘And how much are they paying you?’ he asked. He didn’t sound at all happy about her news and perhaps hoped to catch her out.

Gina was pleased to name a sum that she’d guessed straight away was more than any of the rest of her family earned. ‘But it’s all right, Dad, I’ll send some of it home,’ she said graciously, ‘what with my room and food being all included.’

For a moment Philip was speechless, but then he looked gloomier than ever. ‘Just mind you do, Gina. You’ve never paid your way yet so I reckon you owe us quite a bit.’