‘I know, and I’m sorry if I’ve ruffled her feathers, but my main concern now is to find out what my brother has been up to. You, on the other hand, must concentrate on getting back to normal and taking care of little Dolly.’ He smiled tenderly and stroked the baby’s head as she suckled at her mother’s breast. ‘I couldn’t love her more if she were my own child, and I’m proud of you, Rosie.’

‘I can’t believe that Piers could have deceived us all for so long, Alex.’

‘I’ll visit the prison tomorrow. I want to hear it from his own lips, not from Lambert or anyone else.’

‘I’ll give you the address of Mr Mounce, our solicitor. We need his help, too.’

Alexander nodded. ‘I’ll do anything you ask. You know my feelings for you, Rosie. Nothing will ever change that.’

‘I know, Alex, and I feel the same, but it can never be.’ Rosalind raised her hand to caress his cheek just as the door opened and Hester cleared her throat as she advanced on them.

‘I’ll take Adela, if you’ll help Rosie to her room, Alexander.’

‘I can walk, but it would help if I can lean on you, Alex.’ Rosalind wrapped the shawl that Dora Greep had knitted around the sleeping baby.

‘Don’t think I’m unsympathetic,’ Hester said as she lifted Dolly in her arms. ‘I loved your grandpapa for many years, but it would have caused a huge scandal had our affair become public knowledge.’

‘He married you eventually, Hester.’

‘I was lucky, but forbidden love doesn’t often end so well.’

Despite Hester’s pleas, Rosalind refused to observe the customary lying-in period. She was up and about three days after Adela’s birth in order to receive Mr Mounce, who had travelled from Exeter at Alexander’s request.

Dolly was left in Hester’s care, aided by Nancy, who had taken to the baby as if she were her own sister. Tommy was vaguely curious, but preferred to remain in the school room with Louise where he diligently practised his reading and writing or learned his tables.

Rosalind had chosen to see Mr Mounce in the library, where she could be certain that they would not be interrupted, but it seemed odd to sit behind the same desk where Walter had spent so many hours writing his stories and poems. Alex took a seat at her side and Mr Mounce was comfortably ensconced in a padded leather chair with a cup of tea and a plate of cake on a table at his side.