‘Of course you may. You cared for me when I was a baby. Now you can show me how to look after Adela.’

Hester cradled the baby in her arms. ‘Adela is a pretty name, and she’s going to be a beauty when she grows up. I can see it now.’

‘She’s a lovely little doll,’ Alexander said, smiling. ‘I will always think of her as my little Dolly.’

Hester glared at him. ‘Don’t repeat that in front of her father.’

‘I was there at her birth, Hester. I think that gives me the right to be a proud uncle. One day Dolly Blanchard will make her mark on the world. I don’t care what my brother says. He should have been here. There’s no excuse for neglecting his wife and child.’

‘What’s all that commotion?’ Hester cradled Dolly in her arms as she moved to open the door. ‘Alex, you’d best go and see. Jarvis never raises his voice.’

Alexander was halfway to the door when Ralph Lambert strode into the room, his felt hat limp and dripping with rainwater, as was his caped greatcoat.

‘I know it’s late, but there’s something you ought to know, Mrs Blanchard.’

Rosalind dragged herself to a semi-recumbent position. ‘Why are you here?’

‘I’m asking you to leave,’ Alexander said icily. ‘If you don’t I will have to eject your forcibly.’

‘I wouldn’t do that if I were you, Captain. I should inform you that I’ve been working undercover for the Metropolitan Police for the last six months.’

‘I don’t understand,’ Rosalind said faintly. ‘You were our steward.’

‘I was investigating a series of crimes committed over many years, Mrs Blanchard. I came to tell you that your husband has been arrested and is currently in prison awaiting trial.’

Chapter Nineteen

The baby began to cry and Hester stepped forward, chin out and an aggressive set to her jaw. ‘What are you talking about, Lambert? Are you out of your mind?’

‘No, ma’am. What I said is true. Mr Blanchard has been pursuing illegal activities.’

‘That can’t be true,’ Rosalind said weakly. ‘Piers repaid all the people who were affected by his wrongdoings more than three years ago. He swore to me that he would never break the law again.’

‘I’m afraid he broke his promise, ma’am.’

‘Are you sure about this, Lambert?’ Alex demanded angrily. ‘Can’t you see that you’re upsetting Mrs Blanchard?’

‘I didn’t have to come here tonight, Captain. I felt I owed it to Mrs Blanchard.’

Rosalind fell back against the cushions. ‘I had a feeling that something was terribly wrong, but you tricked your way into our household, Lambert. We treated you well.’

‘That’s why I came here even at this hour of the night. You deserve better than this, ma’am. I’m sorry to have deceived you, but there was no other way. I’ll say this to you, Mrs Blanchard, your husband is a clever man. It’s a pity he didn’t put his talents to better use.’