Lady Pentelow left the room without deigning to answer.

Rosalind twined her fingers around Alexander’s hand. ‘I am so sorry, Alex. I don’t know what to say.’

‘I think I always knew that I was different, and now I understand why.’

‘It’s so unfair. You are being punished for something that was none of your doing. Your father might have been a libertine or he might have been deeply in love with poor Penelope. It seems to me that they weren’t given the chance to live their own lives, with tragic consequences for you as well as them.’

‘It’s a shock, I must admit, but I’ll get over it. I’m more worried about what will happen to Aurelia if the business is sold. The trouble is that I can’t do anything to help.’

‘I suggest you ride over to Greystone Park now and invite the girls to the party on Saturday. You are probably the best person to talk to Aurelia because she’ll listen to you, whereas she might not take any notice of what Lady Pentelow says, especially with regard to Martin Gibbs. I remember meeting him and I think he’s someone to be reckoned with.’

‘I may not be related to Aurelia and Piers in the same way, but we’re cousins, and that gives me the right to have my say. I do care about them, Rosie. I really do.’

‘I know you do, Alex. None of this alters who you really are, and it won’t make any difference to those who love you. Now go, before Lady Pentelow has had time to get into her carriage.’

He nodded. ‘You’re right. Aurelia is still my little sister and I won’t allow anything to come between us. I’ll protect her from the truth for as long as I can.’