‘Let me think it over, but I know Piers wouldn’t want me to go. He was very particular about what I should and shouldn’t do while I’m in this state.’

‘All the more reason for you to assert yourself, Rosie. I never knew you to bow down to anyone, least of all Piers. You were always so independent.’

‘He worries for the baby. You know how much he wants a son.’

‘Then your child is almost certain to be a girl. Please say yes, Rosie. I can’t stay here and dwindle into an old maid.’

‘That will never happen, Patsy.’ Rosalind gazed out of the window. The sun was shining and when she had opened her bedroom window that morning there was a hint of spring in the air. For the next few months she would have to curtail her activities to please her husband and to protect her unborn child – this might be her last chance of doing something out of the ordinary before her confinement. ‘All right Patsy. I’ll accompany you, but that means I have a lot to do today. You may order the carriage to take us to Exeter station tomorrow morning, first thing.’

Patsy dropped her knife and fork on her plate and jumped to her feet. She hurried to Rosie’s side and hugged her. ‘You are the best sister in the world. You won’t be sorry. I’ll make sure that Mama and Claude look after you as if you were made of glass. We’ll have a lovely time in London.’

‘You do realise that I can’t stay for long. I’ll have to travel back to Devon in a day or two. Piers would be furious if he came home and I wasn’t here.’

‘Oh, him!’ Patricia dismissed the idea with a wave of her hand. ‘He’s a stuffy husband. You could have done better.’

‘Rockwood might have ended up a ruin if Piers hadn’t poured money into the renovations. He’s a good man and I love him.’

‘Of course you do, but he’s obsessed with making money from that wretched clay mine. Aurelia hates it as much as I hate this place. You might enjoy being buried in a historic ruin but I want some fun in my life. At least Alex was never boring. Please say you’ll come with me.’

Rosalind sighed, knowing she had lost the argument. ‘If we’re going to London tomorrow, I’d better start making arrangements. Somehow I’ll have to persuade Hester that you need me as your chaperone, and that’s not going to be easy.’

Patricia smiled triumphantly. ‘You want to go to London as much as I do. Admit it, Rosie.’