Alexander raised her hand to his lips. ‘I don’t believe in that sort of thing, and neither should you. I’d better go and let you get some sleep, if the little maid will allow it.’

‘Don’t leave me, Alex.’ Rosalind caught hold of his hand. ‘No one knows you are here. I just don’t want to sleep on my own tonight.’

When Rosalind awoke next morning she was alone in her bed except for Dolly, who was starting to cry. For a few moments Rosalind wondered if she had dreamed that Alex climbed into bed with her in the middle of the night, and then she remembered the devastating news that her husband was to be transported to the colonies. She took care of Dolly’s needs before rising from her warm bed. It was still very early, but there was a sliver of light dividing the sky from the land in the east. She could only be grateful to Alexander for rising before the housemaid came to light the fire, and she washed in cold water before dressing and putting up her hair. She picked up Dolly and was about to leave for the nursery when Jennet Madge, the new housemaid, staggered into the room with a bucket of coal and a bundle of kindling.

‘Good morning, Jennet. You may light the fire. I’m just taking Miss Dolly to the nursery.’ Rosalind stifled a sigh of relief. Asking Alexander to sleep in her bed had been a stupid mistake, but the comfort of his strength and nearness had kept away the night terrors, and made the bad news easier to bear, for the time being at least.

She hurried to the nursery where Molly was up and preparing to look after the baby. Having left Dolly in her capable hands, Rosalind made her way to the dining room where Tilly was laying the table for breakfast.

‘Captain Alexander came home very late last night, Tilly. Have you seen him this morning?’

‘Yes, ma’am. He’s in the kitchen eating his breakfast. I said I would bring it to the dining room but he said it didn’t matter. I had to take a cup of chocolate upstairs for Miss Aurelia.’

‘I expect she’ll be down in a while. Will you tell Mrs Jackson that I’ll just have a boiled egg and some toast for breakfast, and a pot of coffee, of course?’

‘Yes, ma’am.’ Tilly bobbed a curtsey and hurried from the room.

Rosalind took her seat at the table. She knew that Alexander would join her when Tilly passed on the message to Cook, and she was not disappointed. Minutes later he entered the room.

‘How are you this morning, Rosie?’

‘I don’t know, Alex. I feel quite numb. I suppose I was expecting bad news after the trial, but I hoped that if Piers gave evidence against the other criminals the judge might commute his sentence.’