Claude did not return that evening as Rosalind had hoped, and there was still no word from either Piers or Alex. Felicia was determinedly planning her wedding and Patricia refused to leave her room, despite attempts at persuasion from Rosalind and Aurelia. The trays of food that Hester lovingly prepared to tempt Patricia’s appetite were sent back to the kitchen untouched, and by the next morning Rosalind was beginning to worry about her sister’s health. An air of gloom hung over the castle, making a mockery of the beautifully decorated Christmas trees, the swags of holly and ivy and the bowls of richly coloured chrysanthemums that had arrived from Greystone Park. The accompanying note from Sir Michael, wishing Rosalind the compliments of the season, confirmed the fact that he had long forgiven her for spurning his advances. She toyed with the expensive sheet of writing paper, reading it for a second time. ‘Hester, I have an idea.’

‘I hope it’s a good one, poppet. Your sister will waste away if she carries on like this.’

‘If anyone can talk sense into Patsy it will be Christina Greystone. They were always close, even when Sir Michael took against me. I’m going to ask Gurney to saddle up my horse and I’ll ride over to Greystone Park this morning. The thaw seems to have set in and the roads should be passable.’

‘Shouldn’t you wait for Claude to return from London? Maybe he’ll have good news.’

‘But what do we do if he hasn’t any information about Bertie and Alex? I can’t sit back and watch while my sister starves herself to death. Mama says she’ll eat when she’s hungry, but Patsy isn’t a six-year-old. She’s afraid that something has happened to Alex, and the prospect of Mama and Claude getting married in her stead is simply too much for her.’

‘But will Christina be able to do anything? Aurelia has tried, as have you, but Patricia won’t even allow me into her room.’

‘Have you any better ideas? Sir Michael has a seat in Parliament and maybe he can use his influ-ence with the War Department to find out what’s happened to Bertie and Alex. That’s if Claude has not had any success.’

‘I really don’t know, but perhaps it will do you good to get away from here for an hour or two. How you keep patience with Lady Pentelow is beyond me. If she continues to carp and criticise everything I might forget I’m a lady now and tell her a few home truths.’

Hester’s comical expression made Rosalind laugh in spite of the dire situation. ‘Don’t do that. I have to bite my tongue when she’s being difficult, but she will be returning to Trevenor in the near future.’

‘None too soon for my liking.’