‘Nonsense.’ Rosalind gave her a hug. ‘That’s silly talk. It’s a postponement, after all, not a cancellation, and I’m sure people will understand. We can’t go on waiting for news each day and getting more and more despondent when we hear nothing. I don’t like the idea, but it has some merit, if you think about it.’

Patricia twisted free from her grasp. ‘It doesn’t. It’s horrible and I hate you all for even considering it.’ She ran from the room.

‘I’ll go after her,’ Aurelia said hastily. ‘I know what it feels like to be jilted. I’m the best person to be with her right now.’ She followed Patricia from the dining room.

‘Do you really think it’s a good idea, Mama?’ Walter eyed his mother angrily. ‘You’ve really upset Patsy. Shame on you.’ He stood up abruptly and walked out, leaving them staring after him.

Lady Pentelow shook her head. ‘I don’t know what you expected after making such an announcement, Mrs Carey, but I can’t say I blame your son and daughters for the way they took the news.’ She rose to her feet. ‘This always was a strange household and you yourself are not a good example to your children.’

‘What do you mean by that?’ Felicia demanded.

‘You live with this fellow openly. You abandoned your family to follow your own path without a thought for them. No wonder they have turned out as they have.’ Lady Pentelow stalked out of the dining room, almost knocking over James as he was about to enter.

‘Claude, say something,’ Felicia cried, fanning herself vigorously. ‘Are you going to stand by and allow me to be insulted?’

Rosalind turned to James. ‘Not now. Come back later. I suggest you sleep on it, Mama. Maybe Alex and Bertie will turn up in time, and you, as always, will have put yourself first.’

‘Don’t lecture me, Rosalind. Let me remind you that you married a man who had been involved with smugglers at a very young age. More than that, he threatened to take away your inheritance and leave you and your brothers and sister destitute.’

‘Piers never intended to evict us from our home,’ Rosalind said hotly. ‘His involvement with the gang came about because he was trying to save his father from going to prison. His father broke the law and Piers went out of his way to put things right.’

‘Well, he’s not here now, is he? Maybe your husband has run off with another woman,’ Felicia said spitefully.

‘That’s quite enough, Felicia.’ Claude had been silent until now but he was obviously angry and his sharp tone made Felicia turn to stare at him in astonishment.

‘Claude?’

His stern expression relaxed into a half-smile. ‘Harsh things are often said in the heat of the moment, my love. We are all tired and things will probably look better in the morning.’