‘I’m sure you would know more about that than I.’ Lady Pentelow glared at her over the top of her wine glass. ‘And I think I know Piers better than you do.’

‘Grandmama, there’s no need to take it out on Hester.’ Alexander tempered his remark with a smile.

‘Did I ask for your opinion, Alexander?’ Lady Pentelow put her glass down on the highly polished table.

‘Piers doesn’t want to see any of us,’ Rosalind said firmly. ‘I think we will have to leave it to Mr Mounce to liaise between the family and Piers. I don’t like it any more than you do, ma’am, but we do not have any choice in the matter.’

‘You don’t seem unduly upset that your husband has been falsely accused, madam. I would have expected some show of emotion or distress. Could it be that you are relieved that Piers is incarcerated in that dreadful place?’

‘How dare you say such a thing?’ Rosalind pushed her plate away. ‘Why did you come here, Lady Pentelow? You’ve done nothing but complain and criticise since you arrived.’

‘I am the head of the family, I’ll have you know. I never approved of you marrying my grandson and I blame you for his misfortune. You wanted to renovate this tumbling pile of masonry and he had to find the money to do so.’

Alexander rose to his feet. ‘Grandmama, that’s enough. Piers is his own man and he chose the path he’s taken in life. It had nothing to do with Rosalind.’

‘Sit down, Alexander. You and she are far too cosy for my liking. Perhaps you would both be delighted to see Piers sent to prison for a lengthy term.’

‘You are an evil old witch.’ Hester jumped to her feet. ‘You should be helping Rosalind through this difficult time, not accusing her of being the cause of the trouble. Piers followed in his father’s footsteps. Your son-in-law was a criminal and Piers has inherited his father’s bad traits.’

‘You are a common woman who coerced a feeble old man into marrying you. Your place is in the servants’ quarters, not at the master’s table.’

‘Lady Pentelow, that is quite enough.’ Rosalind clutched the edge of the table, her knuckles whitening from the pressure. ‘This has got quite out of hand. You are upset because Piers won’t see you and Aurelia has dared to defy you. I suggest we all sit down and finish the meal that Cook has prepared for us like civilised human beings. We are not fishwives, ma’am. We do not screech at each other or exchange insults simply because we are frustrated.’

Lady Pentelow collapsed back onto her chair. ‘I’m appalled.’