Aurelia slipped her arm around Patricia’s shoulders. ‘Patsy, sit down. Your sister has been protecting you with good reason, but I think you ought to know. What do you have to say to that, Rosie?’

Rosalind opened her mouth to reply but at that moment the door opened again and Felicia marched into the room, followed more slowly by Molly. ‘I found this girl loitering outside the door. Do I take it you’d rung for her, Rosie?’

‘Yes, I did. Please bring refreshments for our guests, Molly.’ Rosalind turned to Lady Pentelow. ‘Would you prefer tea or coffee, ma’am?’

‘Coffee will do, and cake if there is any. I seem to remember your cook, Hester, made very good cakes.’ Lady Pentelow hesitated, raising her hand to cover her lips. ‘I’m sorry, I forgot that she had been elevated by a convenient marriage.’

‘That is a subject we do not discuss,’ Felicia said coldly. ‘My late father-in-law was not in command of his senses during the last ten years or so of his life.’

‘That’s not fair, Mama.’ Rosalind turned to Molly with an encouraging smile. ‘Just tell Cook that coffee and cake are required in the drawing room.’

Molly bobbed a curtsey and scuttled off, closing the door quietly behind her.

‘I can see this is going to be an eventful stay,’ Lady Pentelow said with a wry smile. ‘Are you party to the deception, Felicia? Or did Rosalind take it upon herself to keep the truth from you and her sister?’

‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’ Felicia looked from one to the other. ‘Rosalind?’

‘Please sit down and I’ll tell you all I know.’ Rosalind laid her hand on Patricia’s shoulder. ‘I wanted to keep it from you, Patsy. It’s just possible that Alex and Bertie were on the troop ship that foundered off the coast of France.’

‘What are you saying?’ Patricia shook off her sister’s restraining hand. ‘Why didn’t you tell me before? Were they on that ship or not?’

‘I didn’t say anything because we only found out from a newspaper that Claude brought with him. That really is all I know, Patsy.’

‘But were they all saved? Were there injuries? What did it say, Rosie?’

‘There was nothing specific.’

‘Where is the newspaper? I want to see it.’

‘Yes, we should read it for ourselves,’ Lady Pentelow said gravely. ‘You might have missed something.’

‘I burned it.’ Rosalind met her sister’s angry gaze with an apologetic smile. ‘I wanted to save you the worry, Patsy. It didn’t give any more details, I promise you.’

‘How do I know that you’re telling the truth?’ Patricia’s voice rose an octave. ‘You might think you’re protecting me, but I’m not a child, Rosie. My fiancé was probably on board, and our brother. How can you remain so calm?’