‘Mama barely acknowledges our existence. At this moment she’s probably singing her heart out in Italy. Heaven knows when she and Claude will return to Rockwood.’

‘Felicia always did what she wanted and I’m sorry to say that Patricia is the same. Good night, poppet.’ Hester made her way slowly from the room, and the draught from the door extinguished the candles on the mantelshelf.

Rosalind sat by the dying embers of the fire and felt herself nodding, but she was determined to stay up until Alex returned. She was awakened in the early hours by Molly, who deposited a squalling baby on her lap.

‘I’m sorry, ma’am, but she’s ready for a feed.’

‘That’s all right, Molly,’ Rosalind said sleepily. ‘I’ll look after her for the rest of the night. You may go to bed.’

Molly bobbed a curtsey and hurried from the room. Rosalind settled down with Dolly at her breast, but eventually the chill in the room forced her to take the baby up the grand staircase to her bedroom. The fire in the grate had also burned down to embers, and she laid the now sleeping baby on a pillow while she undressed and climbed into bed beside her daughter. No matter how hard she tried to keep awake it was not long before Rosalind’s eyes closed and she snuggled up beside Dolly, breathing in the delightful milky scent of her baby.

She was awakened by the sound of the door creaking as it opened and in a shaft of light from an oil lamp she saw Alexander, still dressed in his outdoor garments.

‘What happened in court? What was the verdict, Alex?’

Chapter Twenty-Two

‘It couldn’t have been worse, Rosie.’ Alexander peeled off his leather gloves and shrugged off his greatcoat. ‘It wasn’t something that any of us were expecting.’

‘For heaven’s sake tell me, Alex.’

He sat on the edge of the bed, taking her hand in his. ‘Transportation to Australia, Rosie. Piers was sentenced to seven years in a penal colony.’

‘But that’s not fair – he didn’t murder anyone or rob a bank. He’s done wrong, but he didn’t deserve such a harsh sentence.’

‘Trimble was amongst others who threatened him if he turned Queen’s evidence. I think in that case this was probably the best option. If he obeys the rules he could get a ticket of leave in four years.’

‘But Australia is so far away. Is there no way he can appeal against such a harsh sentence?’

‘I spoke to his lawyer but he seemed to think that it would be a waste of time. In the circumstances he said that Piers would be safer in the penal colony than he would in prison here.’

‘If only he had been honest with me from the start. Maybe the curse of the Careys has come back to haunt us.’