Rosalind nodded. ‘That is an important consideration, Hester. I think we should take it. After all, we need somewhere to stay and it’s so close to Christmas. I don’t think we have much alternative.’

Father Laurent closed the door on Monsieur Delfosse. ‘I think Madame wants to show you the drawing room, Madame Blanchard.’

The drawing room was just as cheerless as Rosalind had suspected. Tall windows in the Gothic style of architecture were draped with heavy red velvet curtains, and the cumbersome mahogany furniture was upholstered in a similar fabric, as was the horsehair sofa. Two cavernous armchairs were placed on either side of a fireplace that would not have looked out of place in Rockwood Castle. Twisted iron candlesticks on the mantelshelf matched the heavy chandelier, creating a bizarre note in comparison to the rest of the room.

Madame Planche launched into a speech that was clearly supposed to impress, speaking rapidly and accompanying her words with exaggerated hand gestures.

Father Laurent listened attentively, nodding in apparent agreement. ‘Madame says that this is the best room in the château. It was so beloved of the late tenant that in her last few months she had her bed moved in here.’

Hester’s hand flew to her mouth. ‘She died in this room?’

‘No, she was moved to the hospital across the street at the very end.’

‘She probably haunts the place,’ Hester said in an undertone.

‘Madame would like to know if you wish to take up the tenancy.’ Father Laurent looked from one to the other. ‘You seem a little uncertain.’

‘I don’t think we have any choice,’ Rosalind said reluctantly. She could hear sleety rain beating against the tracery on the windows and it was almost dark. She tried to convince herself that a fire and candlelight would make all the difference. ‘Please tell Madame Planche that we will take the château for a month.’

‘That’s too long,’ Hester protested. ‘Surely we will be able to book passage to take us home sooner than that.’

‘You didn’t see Piers. He is very ill, Hester. I hope we will be able to return to England sooner, but it’s best to be careful.’

‘I don’t see people queuing up outside to take the place on.’ Hester glared at Madame Planche. ‘Tell her we need a fire in all the rooms we’re going to use, Father. And plenty of good wax candles. I won’t put up with tallow.’

Father Laurent turned to Madame Planche, speaking to her in such a pleasant manner that Rosalind suspected he was putting Hester’s commands in a much more persuasive way. He listened attentively to her answer, smiled and nodded.

‘Madame says that you will have to hire a servant to wait on you. She is here to look after the property only. She also asks for the rent in advance, which I think is quite normal.’