‘I’m glad I caught you both together,’ Rosalind said cheerfully. ‘I’ve just introduced the captain to Dora Greep at the farm, and it occurred to me that we should revive our old custom of giving a Yuletide party for the servants and all those in the village who serve us as well, including the tenants. It would be an excellent way of introducing the captain as our new steward. Times have been hard since my husband was sentenced, but we have to go on.’

‘A party?’ Hester raised her eyebrows. ‘This is Wednesday and next Monday is Christmas Day. There’s no time to arrange such a festivity, let alone pay for it.’

‘Let me worry about the finances, Hester. What do you say, Mrs Jackson? I was thinking about something along the lines of a simple harvest supper. We’ll hold it in the largest of the barns so there won’t be any need to have everyone indoors. We’ll have music and dancing and a hog roast. Piers saw to it that our cellar was well stocked so there will be ale, cider, mulled wine and fruit cup to drink.’

‘I could bake a ham, ma’am,’ Mrs Jackson said warily. ‘And I’ll make mince pies. That’s if Annie could help me. She doesn’t have so much to do in the house at the moment, and she’s a good cook.’

‘It’s a lot to ask of you, Edna,’ Hester said slyly. ‘It’s not like the old days when we had plenty of help in the kitchen.’

Mrs Jackson bridled. ‘There’s nothing I can’t do if I put my mind to it, Hester – I mean, Lady Carey. I can call in help from the village and Joe Hannaford could order pasties from the bakery in Dawlish, as well as bread rolls. I’ve already made two batches of mincemeat and my pastry is second to none. I’ll roast a couple of capons and make some frumenty.’

‘Then I’ll do the sherry trifles,’ Hester said firmly. ‘My trifle is good enough to serve on the royal table at Windsor Castle, let alone here at Rockwood.’

‘Excellent.’ Rosalind clapped her hands. ‘I knew I could rely on both of you. We’ll celebrate Yuletide as we did when I was a child, and introduce the captain to the village at the same time.’

‘They know him already,’ Hester said grimly.

‘This is different.’ Rosalind spoke more sharply than she had intended. She softened her words with a smile. ‘We’re all working together now, Hester. We have to rebuild Rockwood’s reputation and our relationship with the village.’

Hester nodded. ‘You’re right, of course. You can rely on me.’

‘And me, ma’am,’ Mrs Jackson added eagerly. ‘What day do you suggest?’