‘Wolfe saved my life on the battlefield. I couldn’t have made the journey without him.’

‘You will come home with us, I hope, Mr Wolfe.’ Rosalind eyed him warily. ‘You would be more than welcome. We have plenty of room.’

‘Of course he’ll come with us, Rosie. I can’t manage without Wolfe. I told you, I’m a useless cripple.’

‘Now, Lieutenant, there’s no cause to talk like that,’ Wolfe said severely. ‘If you’ll kindly leave us, ma’am, I’ll see to your brother’s needs and then I’ll fetch his breakfast.’

Bertie managed a weak smile. ‘At least I can feed myself, Rosie. I’m not a complete baby. Anyway, I don’t suppose you’ve eaten so you should look after yourself. We’ll have plenty of time to talk later, and you can tell me everything that’s been happening at Rockwood.’

‘Yes, of course.’ Rosalind rose to her feet and walked to the door. ‘You’ll have a hero’s welcome when we get home, Bertie.’

‘Is it Christmas Eve? I’ve quite lost track of time.’

‘Yes, it is. We’ll have a proper family Christmas, and it will be all the better because you are with us.’ Rosalind blew him a kiss as she left the room.

Alexander and Fletcher were in the dining room about to tuck into a hearty breakfast when Rosalind joined them. A maidservant hurried into the room with a plate of bacon and egg with devilled kidneys and two racks of toast.

Fletcher reached for the coffee pot. ‘Shall I pour you some, ma’am? I know it ain’t me place, but you look done in.’

Rosalind took her seat. ‘Thank you, Fletcher. I am a bit tired but I’m so glad we came. Poor Bertie is being very brave but I can see how his injury has damaged him in mind as well as body. The doctors have told him he’ll never walk again.’

Alexander put down his knife and fork. ‘I am so sorry, Rosie. That’s terrible news. It was bad enough for me to discover how limited my choices are with a gammy leg, but I feel for Bertie. I really do.’

‘I suppose that great hulk of an ugly brute is his servant.’ Fletcher passed a full cup of coffee to Rosalind.

Rosalind chuckled in spite of everything. ‘Fletcher, you say the most outrageous things. For heaven’s sake don’t repeat that in company.’

‘I don’t mix with company normally, ma’am. I know that you and the captain are different, but I mind me manners when I has to.’

‘Quite,’ Rosalind said drily. ‘Well, I hope you’ll try to get along with Wolfe because he’ll be travelling with us, and for Bertie’s sake I hope he’ll agree to stay on at Rockwood. Bertie will need all the help he can get.’