‘All I want is to be here with the family I love,’ Hester said simply. ‘I don’t care about title and position. I’m still the same person I was before your grandfather and I were married. Let me do my job quietly and behind the scenes until after the wedding. When Christmas is over and your mama goes off on another tour, I’ll think about taking my seat at the table.’

Rosalind rushed over to her and gave her a hug. ‘You are the most wonderful person I know, Hester. But I can’t allow you to do that.’

Hester stared at her blankly. ‘It’s my choice, not yours.’

‘No. You’re not going to be bullied into submission by anyone, least of all my mother. I know it sounds callous, but she’s only here because she is between engagements, and it saves her the expense of staying in a hotel.’

‘That’s harsh, Rosalind. She is still your mother.’

‘And I love her, but I’m not blind to her faults. Mama has never shown much interest in any of us, even Patsy, her favoured child. You, on the other hand, have always been here for us, Hester. You nursed us through our illnesses and you scolded us when we were naughty, and you were the one who bathed our cuts and kissed us better when we fell over.’

‘I’ve always loved you all as if you were my own children, but that doesn’t make me your mother. I don’t want to cause any upsets, especially before the wedding.’

‘I will be more upset if you hide away in your room as if you have something to be ashamed of. You are Lady Carey now and no one can take that away from you.’

‘I would rather stay in the background and make sure that Patricia has a wonderful day to remember. Mrs Carey will rush off again when she gets the call to perform.’

Rosalind could see that Hester was not going to give in and, if she were being honest, it would be much easier to go along with Hester’s plan. She shook her head. ‘I don’t like it, but you know Mama better than any of us.’

‘Then you agree?’

‘Yes, I do. But only until after the wedding. I want Patricia’s happiness above all things.’

‘And Captain Blanchard’s, too?’ Hester raised an eyebrow. ‘You and he were very close a couple of years ago.’

‘Don’t bring that up again, please. I am very fond of my brother-in-law, and he did ask me to marry him, but I realised almost immediately that it was a mistake. I expect he’s forgotten all about it, and so had I until you reminded me.’ Rosalind turned away and walked to the door. ‘I’d better make sure that the room is ready for Mama and Claude. They are engaged, by the way.’