Rosalind nodded. ‘Yes, he was away most of last year and again this year until the shipwreck. When he recovered from his injuries he assured me that he would do as much work from home as possible.’

‘And did he?’

‘At first, but he’s been travelling more and more recently.’

‘I’ll see myself out.’ Mr Mounce acknowledged Alexander with a nod and he gave Rosalind a sympathetic smile. ‘I am sorry to see you plunged once again into such desperate problems. I’ll do my very best to find a way round this. Good day to both of you.’ He hurried from the room.

‘I’m beginning to see why Piers was so keen to train me in the china clay business,’ Alexander said thoughtfully. ‘I couldn’t understand why he travelled so much, but now I do, and it worries me.’

‘Do you think he was using the business as cover for his illegal dealings, Alex?’

‘It appears so. I’m beginning to wonder if Pedrick is involved, and how much of the company’s finances are tied up in the ships that Piers used to transport whatever it was that earned so much money. It certainly wasn’t just china clay.’

‘You’re not planning to visit Trevenor, are you?’

‘Not yet, but I will have to very soon. I need to see Piers first.’

‘Do you believe that he’s been lying to us?’

Alexander grasped her hand. ‘I hope not, but I really don’t know what to think. I will get to the bottom of this, one way or another.’

Piers continued to refuse to see his brother, although Mr Mounce was able to report a brief interview during which Piers was less than cooperative and told him nothing that he did not already know.

It was no surprise to Rosalind when Lady Pentelow and Aurelia arrived unannounced, together with half their household. There was a flurry of activity amongst the servants at Rockwood as they made rooms ready for the unexpected guests and Rosalind braced herself for a series of lectures from Piers’ grandmother. However, the sight of baby Dolly seemed to put all such thoughts out of Lady Pentelow’s head and she insisted on cuddling the baby at every possible opportunity. Aurelia was not so impressed.

‘She doesn’t look much like Piers,’ she said, frowning.

‘All newborn babies look like little old men, Aurelia.’ Lady Pentelow rocked Dolly in her arms. ‘But Adela will grow into her looks. With Pentelow blood in her veins she will become a beauty and she will be clever, too.’ She turned to Rosalind. ‘I don’t understand why you insist on giving her such a common nickname. I believe she is to be christened Adela, and that is what I will call her.’

‘It was Alexander who called her Dolly.’ Rosalind realised her mistake the moment the words left her lips.