Lady Pentelow gave her a searching look. ‘I don’t know what you have to do with it, Alex. You’re only the child’s uncle.’

‘I am entitled to love her, nonetheless,’ Alexander said calmly. ‘I was there at her birth, and—’

‘You were present while Rosalind was confined?’ Lady Pentelow’s voice rose an octave. ‘Explain yourself, Alexander.’

‘It happened by chance, Lady Pentelow,’ Rosalind said hastily. ‘I was visiting a tenant and there was a terrible storm. I was quite far gone and Mrs Madge sent for help. Alexander came, it was as simple as that.’

‘Well, it’s not the sort of story that would go down well if it became public knowledge. It would have been bad enough had Piers been present at the birth, but totally unacceptable for his brother to witness such an intimate moment.’

‘All I did was to hold her hand, Grandmama.’ Alexander winked at Rosalind.

‘I saw that, Alexander. I suppose you think it’s amusing, but you always did exactly the opposite to what was expected of you.’

‘As if it isn’t bad enough having one brother about to be sentenced to a long prison term,’ Aurelia cried passionately. ‘If this gets out we’ll be shunned by society, Grandmama. People will think that Alexander is the father.’

‘That’s enough, Aurelia.’ Alexander rose from his seat, glaring at his sister. ‘Don’t say things like that, even in jest, unless you want to create a scandal that really would ruin your chances of finding a husband.’

Dolly began to howl and Lady Pentelow thrust the baby into Rosalind’s arms. ‘You had better go somewhere quiet to feed her, or better still you should hire a wet nurse. It’s a good thing that I came here. I can see that you need someone to organise your household, Rosalind. You really should be lying in so soon after the birth.’

‘Lady Pentelow, I am most grateful for your concern,’ Rosalind said slowly and deliberately. ‘But my household runs perfectly well.’

‘We’ll see about that. Anyway, my main objective is to visit my grandson in prison. I imagine there has been some terrible miscarriage of the law. Piers will be proved innocent at the trial and I will have him out of that dreadful place in no time at all. He will then come to live with me at Trevenor, where I can keep an eye on him.’

Rosalind stood up, holding Dolly in her arms. ‘This is Piers’ home, ma’am.’

‘Trevenor belongs to him. The clay mine is his life and he would never have become embroiled in whatever he’s been accused of had he been living at Trevenor. You are his wife and you are very welcome, too. But you must cease this nonsense of insisting that this old pile of stones depends upon your management.’

‘These are matters that are strictly between my husband and myself.’