‘Yes, I suppose so. That will be all, Foster.’ Patricia sighed and turned away. Yet another evening ruined, although this time it was the fog which made it impossible to attend the dinner party at the home of Lord and Lady Stanton whose lavish entertainments were legendary. Greystone was probably debating something utterly thrilling like the proposed sewage works east of the city, which had become a vital necessity after the Great Stink that summer. In July and August, the Houses of Parliament had been evacuated because of the pervading smell from human and manufacturing effluent. However, her husband’s late-night sittings were coming a little too often these days, curtailing their social life to an ever-increasing extent. Had it not been for the fog Patricia would have attended the Stantons’ soiree on her own, but it was doubtful if anyone would venture out in these adverse conditions. She went to sit by the fire, watching the glow fairies sparkle and then die away on the sooty fire back, and the orange, red and blue flames licking around the lumps of jet-black coal. Suddenly and unexpectedly she was thinking of her childhood home. Rockwood Castle in Devonshire had not been the most comfortable place to grow up with its draughty corridors and dampness seeping through the stone walls. There had been a time when they were forced to live off the land, but at home there had always been love, laughter and companionship spiced by squabbles and differences of opinion. She smiled as she recalled her rebellious youth. She must have tried her elder sister’s patience to the limit, but Rosalind had always been there to support her when she needed her most. Their relationship had been strained by their mutual involvement with Alexander Blanchard, whom Rosalind had once spurned, and Patricia had almost married. Rosalind had eventually married Alexander after a stormy marriage to his cousin Piers, which ended in divorce. But sisterly love had triumphed and now Rosalind and Alexander were proud parents, devoted to each other and their growing family.