‘No, ma’am. It’s a growler, probably for the servants.’

‘But I wasn’t expecting them.’ Rosalind took a deep breath. How like Mama to turn up without bothering to find out if it was convenient or not. She patted her hair in place and followed Jarvis out into the castle bailey.

Heslop drew the pair of bay horses to a halt before climbing down, somewhat stiffly, to open the carriage door and put the steps down. Felicia was the first to alight, following by Patricia and then Claude. In the meantime the other carriage had driven to the side of the house and the servants’ entrance.

Felicia ran towards Rosalind with open arms. ‘Just look at you, the little mother-to-be. How splendid you look, Rosie. Although perhaps you should eat more. You’re much too thin. I was absolutely huge when I had Bertie.’

Rosalind suffered a hug and a kiss that just missed touching her cheek, and she almost choked on a waft of her mother’s expensive perfume. ‘It’s always lovely to see you, Mama. But why didn’t you let me know you were coming?’

‘It’s not a problem is it, darling? I mean, you have this enormous castle and more rooms than you could fill with the whole village, so I don’t see the difficulty.’

‘Of course, you’re very welcome,’ Rosalind said hastily.

‘The truth is that the season is well and truly over and we haven’t another engagement for months.’ Patricia sailed past them and disappeared into the cool darkness of the entrance hall.

‘We are between engagements, that’s true,’ Felicia said sweetly. ‘But that gives us the opportunity of seeing you and Piers and getting some lovely fresh Devonshire air.’

‘It’s good to see you again, Rosie.’ Claude raised her hand to his lips. ‘You look very well, my dear. I hope we are not intruding.’

‘Of course I’m delighted to see you all,’ Rosalind said warily. ‘But Alexander is due to arrive at any time today. I don’t imagine Patsy will be very pleased about that.’

‘Really! Does that man have to stay here, darling?’ Felicia frowned ominously.

‘He is Piers’ only brother, Mama. He’s coming here to learn about the clay mining business so that he can join the firm.’

‘I suppose he wants an excuse to get out of the war in the Crimea.’

‘No, Mama. I’m sure he is devastated that the army has refused to take him back because of his leg injury. They said he wasn’t fit for active service.’

Claude slipped his arm around his wife’s shoulders. ‘Let’s go indoors, my love. It’s too hot for Rosie to be standing out here.’