Patricia tossed her head. ‘Well, you can’t travel on your own. Whoever heard of such a thing? You’ll have to stay at least until we can find someone to accompany you on the journey.’

‘That is all settled,’ Rosalind said hastily. ‘Fletcher is going to come with me. I’ve decided to take her on as my personal maid.’

‘You can’t mean that, Rosie.’

‘But I do. She’s intelligent and quick to learn, and I feel safe with her. She lacks polish but that will come in time.’

‘I don’t know what Greystone will say about that. The woman has been in prison.’

‘My husband is in prison, in case you’ve forgotten. Piers is serving a seven-year sentence for something much more serious than what Fletcher did.’

‘Well, if you’re quite sure. It was only an experiment, after all.’

‘And it’s obviously worked. You may tell your husband that Fletcher is to be employed by me and she will no longer be a danger to anyone, least of all herself.’

‘Perhaps it’s as well you’re going back to the countryside. Heaven knows what sad cases you might take on should you have decided to remain in London for any length of time.’ Patricia sighed. ‘But I will miss you, Rosie.’

‘You could always return to Greystone for Christmas and then we can share the festive season. After all, Sylvia will be on her own if Christina decides to spend Christmas with the Cottinghams. I’m sure Sylvia would be delighted to see you.’

‘Oh, didn’t you know? Sylvia has been invited to spend Christmas at Trevenor. It seems that she and Aurelia are the best of friends. My sister-in-law could have come to London, but she chose Cornwall, so I know where her loyalties lie. Now you are abandoning me, too.’

‘Honestly, Patsy. You have so many parties and social functions to attend, you won’t have time to feel lonely. You know you can always come home to Rockwood if you really miss your family.’

‘Thank you, but I think I’d be better off here than in our draughty ancestral home. Are you sure you want to leave tomorrow?’

Rosalind gave her a hug. ‘There are preparations for Christmas to be made. I can’t leave them all to Hester. I’ll miss you, Patsy, but I have to go home.’