‘I don’t intend to tell her. Aurelia loves you dearly and it would break her heart. Besides which, she has given me another problem, which I must face on my own.’

‘What has she done now?’ Rosalind moved to Alexander’s side and grasped his hand. ‘What else have you to tell us, ma’am?’

‘Aurelia has been seeing too much of Martin Gibbs, the mine manager. He’s obviously set his sights on her, no doubt thinking that if he marries the mine owner’s sister he’ll be made for life. Unfortunately she has taken a liking to him, too.’

‘He’s a decent fellow, Grandmama. I mean Great-aunt – I don’t even know what to call you now,’ Alexander said wearily. ‘I wish you’d told me all this sooner, but now it’s out in the open it explains a great deal. I always knew that you had reservations when it came to me. Now I know why.’

Lady Pentelow rose from her seat. ‘That’s unfair, Alexander. I treated all you children equally, and one after another you’ve all let me down.’

‘Alex hasn’t done anything wrong, Lady Pentelow,’ Rosalind said angrily. ‘He is the injured party, not you.’

‘Really?’ Lady Pentelow gave her a frosty look. ‘I suppose carrying on with his brother’s wife is honourable behaviour, is it?’

Alexander raised Rosalind’s hand to his lips. ‘All right, I’ll admit that I’ve been in love with Rosalind for a very long time, but we’ve done nothing to be ashamed of.’

‘And yet here you are, once again, holding hands with Piers’ wife. Sadly I think you must take after your father. Julius Hampton was a philanderer and Penelope fell for his charms. I’d advise you to be very careful, Rosalind, or you may fall into the same trap.’

‘Don’t involve Rosalind in this, Aunt,’ Alexander said angrily. ‘She is above reproach, and I do love her, but we’ve accepted that we can never be together.’

‘I’ve no time for this sentimental nonsense. I think it best if I leave now. We won’t speak of this again, do you understand, Alexander?’

Lady Pentelow rose from her seat and walked to the door, hesitating for a moment to look back over her shoulder. ‘Such a pity. I once thought you had potential, Alexander, but I see that you are content to be this woman’s lackey.’

‘That remark was unworthy of you, Aunt.’ Alexander turned away to stare out of the window.

‘We’re giving a Yuletide party on Saturday.’ Rosalind made an effort to sound calm, even though she was inwardly fuming at the humiliation that Lady Pentelow had heaped upon Alexander. ‘My sister, Aurelia and Sylvia are invited, even if you choose to stay away, Lady Pentelow. I’m sure you wouldn’t want to set tongues wagging by forbidding them to attend.’