‘They’ll end up in service, Rosie. Be careful that you don’t give them expectations that can never be fulfilled.’

‘I’m going to teach them to read and write, and basic arithmetic. Just because they were born into poverty doesn’t mean they have to spend the rest of their lives in that situation. As to going into service, they could do worse, but they could also do better. The Lent Term ends soon and Walter will be home for Easter. He can help me to work out a syllabus. He’ll love doing that.’

‘So you are going to treat those orphans as if they were your own?’

‘I’ve taken responsibility for them, so of course I will. They deserve a better start in life than they’ve had up until now.’ Rosalind turned her head as the door opened and Patricia burst into the room.

‘Who is that grubby urchin I found in my dressing room?’

‘You arrived home too late from Greystone Park for me to tell you,’ Rosalind said reasonably. ‘Do sit down and have some breakfast.’

‘So who is he? I asked him and he began to snivel.’

‘I hope you didn’t scare him, Patsy. He’s suffered enough for one so young.’ Rosalind leaped to her feet. ‘Where is he now?’

‘How should I know?’ Patricia stormed over to the sideboard and helped herself from the silver serving dishes. ‘I go out for the day and come back to an orphanage.’

‘Sit down, Rosie.’ Hester rose slowly to her feet. ‘I’ll go and find the little fellow. I told him to go to my parlour when he’d finished breakfast as I need to dress his burns. I expect he got lost and wandered into your room by mistake, Patricia.’

‘Where’s Piers?’ Patricia took her seat at the table. ‘What has he got to say about you taking in these strays?’

‘Piers is happy to leave matters to me. Anyway, he’s gone to Trevenor to check that Pedrick is doing as he asked.’

‘Piers loves the china clay business more than he does his family.’ Patricia reached for the toast rack. ‘I don’t blame him for getting out of this madhouse. To tell you the truth I’m thinking of doing the same.’

‘You’re going back to Trevenor? What about Alex?’

‘No, of course I’m not going there. I thought I’d go to London and stay with Mama and Claude for a while. Rockwood is deadly dull and Christina thinks she’s in love with Oscar Cottingham. She can’t talk about anything other than what they will do together when he comes home for Easter, and Sylvia is still a child. We have very little in common now.’

‘Are you jealous, Patsy? I seem to recall that Oscar was one of your conquests not so long ago.’