Rosalind thought quickly. ‘Sunday is Christmas Eve, so what about Saturday? It only gives us three days to prepare, but I’m sure we can do it in time.’

‘I’ll call in help from my sister Maud from the Black Dog. She’s famous for her beefsteak pies so maybe we could add those to the list, and I’ll send Jennet to Hannaford’s shop and Joe will order in the pasties from the bakery. We’ll soon get organised, ma’am.’

‘Don’t forget our Christmas dinner,’ Hester said grimly. ‘I don’t want to eat leftovers from the party.’

‘There’s no danger of that, Hester, I mean your ladyship. I have had Christmas planned for months, despite everything going topsy-turvy around us. Begging your pardon, Mrs Blanchard.’

Rosalind managed a smile. ‘I knew I could rely on you, Mrs Jackson. I’ll leave the catering in your capable hands. I’m going to the nursery now, and then I’ll be helping the children to decorate the main rooms.’

‘I saw Abe and the captain in the main hall just now with a huge fir tree. I think it’s the largest we’ve ever had.’ Hester placed the list she had been compiling on the table. ‘That’s for you, Edna. It’s a list of things we’ll need from Hannaford’s. You may add whatever you need.’

Rosalind smiled as she left them chatting amicably – at least that was one crisis averted. There had always been an element of competition between Hester and Cook, mainly due to the fact that Hester could not quite give up control of the kitchen, but the arrangements for the Yuletide celebrations seemed to have given them a common aim. Rosalind hoped that it would be so with the rest of the servants, both indoors and outside. She knew she was taking a chance by employing Alexander, but she hoped the party would bring everyone together.

‘Invitations,’ Rosalind said out loud as she crossed the entrance hall.

‘Talking to yourself now. It’s a bad sign, Rosie.’ Walter emerged from the library, making her turn with a start.

‘Walter, you’re just the person I need. I’m inviting the whole village to a Yuletide celebration to be held in the largest barn, and on reflection probably a couple of the smaller ones as well. I need invitations to be sent out, or perhaps posters to be placed around the village. Can I leave that to you and Louise? She’s not giving the children any more lessons until after Christmas.’

‘That sounds like a good idea. What brought this on?’

‘It’s partly to introduce Alex to the wider community, but it’s also to show that we’re not hanging our heads in shame. Everyone knows about Piers’ sentence, but that doesn’t alter the fact that Rockwood has been here for centuries and scandals have come and gone.’