‘I think Fletcher can take a joke. But seriously, we have to be careful how we behave for Dolly’s sake, if not for our own.’

‘Your presence here might cause a bit of a stir at the outset, but people will get used to the idea.’

‘My brother is a fool. He’s thrown away the greatest gift he could ever have.’

‘Let’s not talk about it now.’ Rosalind wheeled her horse round. ‘On second thoughts, perhaps I’d better go and see Dora Greep first and pave the way. She is the world’s biggest gossip so I don’t want her making up the information she spreads round the village. I just wish I could be there when she first meets Fletcher.’

‘Let me come with you. I expect she’s seen me around anyway, but it would be better if we’re formally introduced. Maybe I can find her husband on the farm and have a word with him, too.’

‘Perhaps you’re right. Maybe we’re both worrying about nothing. Who better to be my steward in times like these than my husband’s brother?’

As Rosalind had expected, Dora Greep eyed Alexander curiously and with a certain amount of suspicion, but he exercised his considerable charm and she was soon won over. Alexander left with a wheel of cheese, a dozen eggs and a pound of butter wrapped up in muslin and cabbage leaves. Dora promised to send the dairymaid to the cottage with a pail of milk, although Rosalind suspected that it would be Mrs Greep herself who turned up at the door. Dora would then have first-hand information to pass round about the stranger from London who was the captain’s housekeeper. Rosalind could not help wondering who would win that particular battle of wills, but if she were a betting woman she would put her money on Fletcher.

Rosalind parted from Alexander at the farm gate. He rode off to take the food to the cottage and she returned to the castle. It was a wintry scene with the bare branches of the trees silhouetted against a cold grey sky, and the mournful cries of gulls circling overhead. It would be a long winter, and after an indifferent harvest there would be hardship amongst the villagers by the time spring came.

Rosalind reined in Sheba and gazed over the silvery surface of the backwater as an idea came to her. Everyone needed a lift in their spirits and she knew just how to accomplish that. She rode to the stables and left Sheba in Hudson’s capable hands before making her way to the kitchen where she found Mrs Jackson preparing luncheon. As luck would have it Hester was there supervising, or as Rosalind suspected, interfering with the arrangements for dinner that evening.