‘All the more reason for Piers to turn Queen’s evidence in return for a shorter sentence. He created this mess and he’s the one who knows how to restore the finances of the clay mine and Trevenor. I refuse to allow him to bankrupt the estate. It would kill Grandmama if she lost everything because of my brother’s criminal activities.’

‘Then we must see Piers before the trial. We only have a couple of days, Alex.’

‘You’re not to go on your own. If you want to see him I’ll go with you.’

The bride and groom left next day for their brief honeymoon in London. Patricia had expressed a desire to visit Paris or Rome, but Sir Michael would hear none of it. It would, he said, be prudent to establish themselves in the town house. Patricia boasted that he had given her unlimited funds with which to purchase a whole new wardrobe, and she intended on visiting all the fashionable couturiers in London, as well as furniture warehouses to make up for being denied a luxurious honeymoon.

Rosalind was glad that her sister was happy, but she herself had other matters on her mind, and that afternoon she and Alex left for Exeter prison in the barouche, leaving Dolly in Hester’s care. It was the first time that Rosalind had been parted from her baby, but after her shocking experience outside the prison on her last visit, she had no intention of placing Dolly in danger. The trial was due to begin in two days’ time, and although they were at first refused admission, Rosalind made an impassioned plea to see her husband, which would have melted the hardest heart, and the warder hurried off to gain permission from the prison governor.

Rosalind and Alex waited in a small, cold room with bars at the window and hard wooden chairs. It was not the most welcoming place and the smell of urine and excrement was faint but still sickening in its intensity. The noxious smells grew worse when the warder returned and, having gained assent from the governor, he led them through a maze of corridors divided by locked doors. The sound of men crying was new to Rosalind and she found that more shocking than the shouted insults and oaths that followed them wherever they went.

Piers was in a tiny cell with only a wooden bed frame, a bucket and a single chair to provide for his needs. He was in need of a shave, his hair was tangled and his clothes filthy. Rosalind was shocked by his appearance and he turned away when he saw them.

‘I said I didn’t want to see anyone,’ he said gruffly.

‘You’ve got ten minutes, no longer.’ The warder locked them in the cell and the sound of his boots thudding on the flagstones echoed off the walls.