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‘Do you think that any of it was the truth?’ Rosalind asked, frowning.
Patricia shook her head. ‘I don’t know much about Elizabeth. Greystone never spoke about her, or his elder brother, Oliver. Their names never came up in conversation.’
‘I cannot believe that this evening has turned out to be such a fiasco.’ Rosalind sank back on her seat. ‘That man insinuated himself into Tommy’s good books with the intention of coming here and causing as much trouble as he could. Although why he would want to hurt our family is a mystery.’
‘Whatever his intentions, he certainly succeeded in gaining our attention,’ Alexander said drily. ‘I’m going to make sure he leaves the castle right away. Are you coming, Leo? I think we need to give Wolfe a helping hand.’
‘I hope he hasn’t unpacked.’ Hester stood up. ‘To say I’m shocked is an understatement. I knew Lady Prudence for many years and she was a good and faithful wife. That man rattled off a tissue of lies.’
‘I am so sorry for bringing him here,’ Tommy said sadly. ‘He was so nice to me when we met at the cricket match.’
‘He obviously planned the whole thing.’ Nancy patted him on the arm. ‘Don’t worry, Tommy. Leo and Alex will make sure that Gervase North goes on his way, and he won’t be allowed back.’
‘Why would he come here now?’ Louise asked. ‘He could have staked his claim on Greystone Park after Sir Michael’s tragic accident.’
‘Elizabeth Greystone died of consumption, so I believe,’ Hester said slowly. ‘Her husband succumbed to apoplexy. They only had one child, but you’re right, Louise – why would Gervase leave it until now to make his presence felt? And why come here making trouble? It doesn’t make sense.’
‘I neither know nor care.’ Bertie held up his hand for silence. ‘I don’t want to hear another word concerning Gervase North. From this moment onward we will have nothing to do with him.’
Tommy sighed heavily. ‘He was very good to me when I first started at that school, Papa.’
‘He must have had his sights set on this family for a long time,’ Bertie said firmly. ‘I don’t want you to see him again, Tommy. Is that understood?’
‘Yes, Papa.’
‘Perhaps I should stay here instead of going to London, Uncle Bertie,’ Nancy said eagerly. ‘I could keep Tommy company in case he gets lonely.’
‘No, Nancy.’ Rosalind shook her head. ‘We will take good care of Tommy and you will finish your education.’
‘Yes, my dear,’ Patricia added, smiling. ‘You will be able to spend Christmas with Tommy and the rest of us. I don’t think you should miss this opportunity to get a little town polish. You might be grateful for it one day.’
Despite all her attempts to persuade the family to allow her to remain at Rockwood for the summer, Nancy arrived in London late next day, accompanied by Molly Greep. The decision as to which maid to take with her had, in the end, been the easiest of all, and Molly had accepted the offer eagerly. Perhaps because of the upset caused by Gervase North, the final arrangements for their travel had happened quickly. Ned Hudson drove them to Exeter where they caught the train bound for London.
Nancy had gained knowledge of the city when she had lived there with Patricia, and she found herself looking after Molly, who had never left the village until now. Nancy summoned a porter, who took their luggage to the cab stand and she tipped him generously before giving the cabby the address of the Academy in the Outer Circle of Regent’s Park.
Molly said little and was clearly overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle of the metropolis, the noise and the different smells. She sat in the corner of the cab, half buried beneath a pile of baggage and hatboxes, which left her just enough room to stare out of the window. Nancy sat back on her seat, feeling like a seasoned traveller.
The cabby dropped them off outside the elegant, white stucco-fronted residence, set behind a formal front garden. On the opposite side of the road, Regent’s Park stretched as far as the eye could see, imprisoned by iron railings. It was a balmy summer evening and the trees in the park were in full leaf. Glimpses of the lake shimmered in the evening sunlight and the air was filled with the scent of blossom from the gardens, mingled with the less pleasant odours of summer in the city. However, it was a far cry from Covent Garden and the wharfs at Puddle Dock, where Nancy had lived with Patricia during their stay in London. This was obviously a very affluent area, far removed from the poverty of the East End. Nancy felt as if she had landed in some foreign country where no one spoke her language.
‘It’s smart isn’t it?’ Molly said in a hushed voice. ‘I hope they don’t think we’re country bumpkins.’
‘Open the gate, Molly. We won’t get anywhere by standing here on the pavement.’ Nancy spoke with more conviction than she was feeling. The large white sign with black lettering proclaimed ‘Miss Maughfling’s Academy for Young Ladies’, and all her doubts assailed her in one stomach-clenching blow. If Molly was apprehensive, Nancy felt as though the ground was shaking beneath her feet. She wished she had stood up to Rosie and Patsy, although they only wanted the best for her. Perhaps she should have asked Hester to intervene. Maybe her position in life was to be that of housekeeper or the wife of a humble artisan. The staff at the orphanage had told her often enough that she was a nameless nobody from goodness knows where. At this moment in time, all she wanted was to return home.
Molly picked up the two heaviest cases. ‘Don’t worry, miss. You’ll be the top of the class in everything you do. Just think of me below stairs with them London servants. I expect they’ll think I’ll have corn growing out of my ears.’
Nancy took a deep breath. ‘Then we’ll just prove them wrong, Molly. We’re here now and it’s less than six months until Christmas. We’ll conquer London, just like Mrs Wilder did when she sang in Clare Market. You go on and knock on the door. I’ll follow you with the rest of the luggage.’
The shiny black front door with its highly polished brass furniture opened to reveal a maidservant dressed in black with a white mobcap and starched apron.
‘The servants’ entrance is reached through the mews at the back.’ She was about to close the door when Molly put a foot over the threshold.
‘Oy, you, girl. This is Miss Nancy Sunday and she’s one of your young ladies, so you’d better let us in.’
‘Wait there.’ The door closed in their faces and there was nothing to do other than wait for the maid to return, which she did moments later. ‘Come in, but leave your luggage there. The porter will take it to your room.’
Nancy stepped over the threshold, but when Molly tried to follow her, she was stopped by the maid. ‘Not you. Servants’ entrance is in the mews, like I said.’
Molly cast a frantic glance at Nancy, who understood immediately.
