‘Very well, this isn’t easy to say, but you are not my grandson. Your mother was my niece, Penelope Teague.’

Alexander stared at her with a perplexed frown. ‘What are you saying?’

‘Penelope was the only child of my late brother and sister-in-law – just a girl of sixteen when she fell in love with a dashing cavalry officer. They eloped but my brother gave pursuit and brought Penelope home, despite her pleas that she be allowed to stay with Julius. Some months later she died giving birth to you, Alexander.’

He regarded her with a dazed expression. ‘Then you are my great-aunt, not my grandmother.’

‘That’s correct. My husband and I decided it would be better for everyone if you were taken into the family and treated as our grandchild.’

Rosalind took a step towards him, holding out her hand. ‘Alex – I’m so sorry.’

He shook his head. ‘Let me get this straight. My mother was your niece and my father was an army officer who apparently took advantage of her and then left her to die alone. Is that right?’

‘No, not exactly,’ Lady Pentelow said reluctantly. ‘To be honest I never liked Julius Hampton. He was too confident of his looks and charm for my liking, but Penelope fell under his spell. He did offer to marry her but her father would have none of it. If he had known that she was with child he might have acted differently.’

‘What happened to my father, the cavalry officer?’

‘He died less than a month after your mama passed away. He was thrown from his horse and he never recovered consciousness.’

‘Did he know about me?’

‘I don’t know the answer to that, Alexander. He was serving in the East India Company Army and he died in India. His family were informed but they wanted nothing to do with you.’

‘Have you met my family? Where do they live?’

‘I met your paternal grandfather once. He came down from London to see Penelope’s parents. He contributed towards your education.’

‘But he wanted nothing to do with me personally,’ Alexander said bitterly. ‘In other words, he paid you to keep me away from my other family.’

‘I’m sorry, Alexander. This would never have come to light in my lifetime but for the present circumstances. If it’s any consolation I’ve always thought of you as my grandson.’

Alexander was silent for a moment. Rosalind could see that he was struggling with a maelstrom of emotions and she felt his pain, but she knew this was not the time for an outward display of sympathy on her part. She bit her lip and remained silent with difficulty.

‘Does Piers know about this?’ Alexander said at length.

‘No, but I feel bound to let him know before they ship him off to the penal colony, which must be any day now. I want the family affairs put straight.’

‘And Aurelia?’