‘I won’t.’ Rosalind smiled and hurried from the room. She made her way to the kitchen where she instructed Mrs Jackson to make up a tea tray, including a decanter of whisky. Having given Cook detailed instructions as to how Mrs Carey liked the bread to be thinly cut and lightly buttered, with a preference for potted meat rather than jam, Rosalind was satisfied that she had done all she could to keep her mother happy, at least for the moment. Thanks to Hester’s foresight and years of experience, the beds in all rooms had been aired and made up in anticipation of the arrival of the wedding guests. Rosalind went to find Tilly and sent her to the west tower to light a fire in the room that Felicia and Claude were to share. Tilly scuttled off, eager to please and prove herself worthy of her recent promotion to chambermaid.

Walking slowly, Rosalind struggled to come to terms with her mother’s sudden arrival. It had been a surprise, but then Felicia Carey never did what was expected of her. Rosalind was used to her mother’s capricious temperament and although invitations had been sent, she had not expected her mother and Claude to accept. Felicia’s presence created a problem. She had made it plain from the start that she considered Sir Lucius’s marriage to his former housekeeper little more than an outrage and an insult to the family name. The thought of the two of them eyeing each other up like adversaries for the next three weeks or so was more than Rosalind could bear. She knew she must warn Hester, but how to do so without hurting her feelings was another matter. She found her, as expected, in the blue parlour.

Hester put down the garment she had been mending and folded her hands in her lap. ‘I’m glad your mama is here, if only for Patricia’s sake, so don’t worry about me.’

‘But I do worry,’ Rosalind said earnestly. ‘I don’t want you to be put in an awkward position, Hester. Mama didn’t approve of your marriage to Grand-papa, and I know that nothing will change her mind.’

‘Don’t fret on my account. To be honest I think I agree with Madam Felicia, probably for the first time in my life. She’s right: I don’t belong at table with the rest of the family. I’ll take meals in my room.’

‘No, Hester. That’s not necessary. I don’t want you to be excluded.’

‘What’s the alternative, poppet? I’ve known your mama a very long time and while she’s here I will keep out of her way.’

‘It’s all wrong,’ Rosalind protested angrily. ‘Mama will stay until Claude gets her a new booking and then she’ll be gone again.’