‘Here, Captain, are you going to let her talk to you like that?’ Fletcher shot a hostile glance in Hester’s direction. ‘She’s no lady. A title don’t alter nothing. A book has a title and a play in the theatre has a title but you can’t imitate breeding.’

‘Yes, thank you, Fletcher. I’ll send for Tilly and she will show you your room.’ Rosalind sent a warning look to Hester. ‘The luggage will be sent up later.’

‘All right, but I might as well make meself useful.’ Fletcher picked up several valises, tucking one under each arm and grabbing the handles of the other two. ‘Oy, cully.’ She jerked her head in Jarvis’s direction. ‘You may be old, but you look strong enough to bring the rest. You can show me the way.’

‘Jarvis is the butler here,’ Hester protested. ‘We have a footman to do the heavy work.’

‘Waste of time and money.’ Fletcher started off up the grand staircase. ‘Come on, butler. Show us you ain’t too feeble to carry a couple of cases.’

‘I’d better follow her, my lady,’ Jarvis said apologetically. ‘I know her sort. She’ll purloin the silver if I let her roam freely about the castle.’

‘Watch what you say, old man.’ Fletcher cast him a quelling glance. ‘I done me time and I ain’t going back to prison for a few odd bits of silver.’

‘She’s your guard dog, Alexander,’ Hester said icily. ‘You’d better muzzle her before she causes some real trouble. Come with me, Rosalind. I want to talk to you.’

Rosalind followed Hester to her parlour and closed the door behind her. ‘How is Dolly? I couldn’t bear to be away from her any longer.’

‘She’s well and thriving. Eliza Madge will be staying here with her infant until Dolly is weaned. I take it that’s all right with you, Rosie?’

‘My milk has dried up or I wouldn’t consider it, but who’s looking after Mrs Madge’s other children?’

‘Jessie Wills lives in the cottage next door to Eliza. Her girls are grown up and in service so she’s on her own with Saul still serving time in prison. It seems she’s fond of the young ones and happy to have something to do other than taking in sewing and mending.’

‘I must go to the nursery before I do anything else.’

‘You’ll tell me first why you’ve brought Alexander back to Rockwood, let alone that harridan he says is his housekeeper.’

Rosalind drew herself up to her full height, meeting Hester’s gaze with a steady look. ‘Whatever you may think, Alexander is my brother-in-law – he’s part of the family and he’s fallen on hard times. I need a steward and who better than someone I can trust absolutely?’

‘People will talk.’