‘Bertie, look back to our childhood. Our father was absent most of the time, but you grew up to be your own man without his influence. You have the opportunity now of concentrating all your energies into helping Tommy through the difficulties of growing to manhood. Think what Sally would have wanted for the boy.’ Rosalind patted his hand as she rose to her feet. ‘You don’t have to decide right away. Get to know Tommy first and I’ll support whatever decision you make.’ She left the room, happy to have passed on the news and certain in her own mind that Bertie would make the right choice. She did not know the full extent of his injuries but it seemed likely that her brother would never be able to father any more children. In Tommy he had a son and heir, and a child who desperately needed the love and guidance of a father.

Later, in church, Rosalind barely heard the words intoned by the vicar. She automatically repeated the prayers and sang the hymns, but her mind was elsewhere. She was still thinking about Bertie and the decision that faced him when she left the church, closely followed by Hester, Alexander and the rest of the household. Rosalind was walking slowly towards the lychgate when Sir Michael stepped out in front of her.

‘Might I have a word in private, Rosalind?’

She glanced anxiously at Patricia, who merely smiled and walked on with Lady Pentelow and Sylvia. Christina and Oscar had stopped to talk to the vicar, while the squire and Glorina chatted amicably to a group of acquaintances.

‘What is it, Sir Michael? You haven’t stopped me to wish me the compliments of the season, I’m sure.’

‘I do, of course, but this is much more serious and pertinent to your current situation.’ He drew her aside into the shelter of one of the ancient yew trees. ‘I realise I haven’t always been the best friend to you, Rosalind, especially after you spurned my advances. But I realise now that you were right, and I am extremely happy with your sister. Patricia and I are cut from the same cloth, and we understand each other.’

‘I’m so glad, sir, but what has this to do with me?’

‘I’m coming to that and I’ll be quick because I can see Alexander eyeing me warily. This, I believe, affects him, too. Anyway, I visited Piers in prison at his request. He realised how badly he had treated you and he wanted to make amends.’

‘He’s being punished by the law, Sir Michael.’

‘This isn’t a question of justice – he wanted to set you free from a marriage that he knows he has ruined by his selfishness and criminal behaviour.’

‘I don’t understand.’

‘Piers asked me to put through a Private Member’s Bill so that you could be divorced and set free.’

‘He divorced me?’