‘Hold on, Rosie. What have I done to receive such a welcome?’

‘We didn’t know if you were alive or dead,’ she said, halfway between tears and laughter. ‘There was an article in The Times about a troop ship that came to grief off the coast of France.’

‘That was us, but as you can see I’m here and I’m unhurt.’

‘It takes more than a shipwreck to kill a Carey,’ Walter said, chuckling. ‘He’s taken us all by surprise, Rosie.’

‘Yes, indeed.’ Felicia raised Claude’s hand to her cheek. ‘Bertie and my dear husband-to-be arrived together.’

Rosalind glanced round the room as if expecting to see Alexander hiding behind a column. ‘But where is Alex? Why isn’t he here?’

‘I’m afraid he was injured,’ Bertie said warily. ‘But he’s being well treated in a French hospital.’

‘Was he badly hurt? Have you told Patsy?’

‘He has a broken leg, and he can’t be moved until the doctors say so. I haven’t been to see Patsy yet. We only got here a short while ago.’

Claude cleared his throat. ‘Hester has gone to give Patricia the good news.’

‘My daughter won’t speak to me,’ Felicia said crossly. ‘I don’t know why, especially when I have something really lovely to tell you all.’

Rosalind knew exactly why her sister wanted nothing to do with their mother, but she knew it was pointless to say anything. ‘What is it, Mama?’ she asked wearily.

‘The vicar called to see me while you were out. He said he will be pleased to conduct our marriage ceremony, even though it’s such short notice. I did promise that Claude would give a generous contribution to the church’s restoration fund, but it’s all settled and Claude has come home with the licence. So all is well and Patricia will soon get used to the idea.’

‘Let’s hope so, Mama.’ Rosalind turned to Bertie. She was so happy to see him unharmed, although he was pale with fatigue and dark shadows underlined his eyes. She drew him down onto the sofa beside her. ‘Tell me everything. What happened to you? How did you meet up with Claude?’

‘We met on the railway station,’ Bertie said with a hint of his old wry humour. ‘I don’t know who was more surprised.’

‘Isn’t it wonderful to have Bertie safe and sound?’ Felicia clapped her hands. ‘Now we will all be together for our wedding, Claude.’

Bertie eyed his mother, frowning. ‘Do you really intend to go ahead with the arrangements, Mama? Don’t you think in the circumstances it would be better to wait until after Christmas?’

‘No, why should we? Oh, if you mean Patricia will be upset by it, she will be so delighted to know that her fiancé isn’t badly injured that she will forget to be angry with me.’