‘I don’t know what we can do about his clothes.’ Rosalind brushed his filthy hair back from his forehead. ‘You poor boy, these rags are so burned they’re falling off you.’

Meggie frowned thoughtfully. ‘My sister dropped off some of her boy’s clothes for me to sell in the market. Maybe there’s something there that would fit him.’

‘Anything would do until we can get him home. Thank you, Meggie. I’m sorry to bring all this on you.’

Meggie smiled as she poured the tea. ‘It’s not every day I see Sweep Hodges bettered by a woman. I was watching out of the window. His face was a picture.’ She reached for a tin and Eliza jumped up and down as her mother opened it and took out four biscuits. She gave one each to her daughters and another to Nancy. ‘I expect you’re hungry, Tommy. If you’re anything like my sister’s boy, he’s always ready for food.’ She handed the biscuit to him and he gobbled it in two bites. ‘Maybe you ought to have another one.’

‘If you take the girls into the parlour, I’ll help Tommy to wash while Nancy tries on her new clothes. I’ll take my gowns with me, Meggie. I know they’ll fit perfectly, and if they don’t I’ll soon grow into them.’

Meggie poured milk for the girls and filled a glass for Tommy, which he downed in one long swallow. ‘Poor child – he’s starving. Hodges should be ashamed of himself.’ She led Eliza into the parlour with Nancy dancing along with them.

‘Now, Tommy. Let’s see what I can do for you. It will be a lick and a promise, but when we get home to Rockwood, you can have a nice hot bath …’

When they arrived back at the castle Rosalind took both children to Hester’s parlour, which was where she still headed whenever she needed advice.

‘Hester, this is Tommy Trimble. I had to pay the sweep to release him, and now he’s come to stay with us.’

Hester stared at Tommy, shaking her head. ‘You didn’t! Not another one, Rosie.’

‘What would you have done?’ Rosalind placed her hand protectively on Tommy’s shoulder. ‘He ran away after having a fire lit beneath him to make him work faster. I really believe he would have thrown himself in the river had I not intervened.’

‘I would,’ Tommy said firmly. ‘That’s where I was going, missis.’

‘It’s Lady Carey to you, boy.’ Hester drew Rosalind aside. ‘You can’t go round the country taking in all the waifs and strays you come across. What will Piers say?’