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Nancy had been used to visiting Greystone Park, which she thought was the grandest house she had ever seen, but it was eclipsed by the splendour of Dorrington Place. The interior was even more spacious and impressive. The marble-tiled hall was furnished with stylish simplicity and made welcoming by fires blazing in ornate fireplaces facing each other on opposite sides of the room. Urns filled with hothouse roses, orchids and carnations made splashes of vibrant colour against the silvery white walls, while crystal chandeliers and wall sconces filled with wax candles gave the impression of daylight. Servants appeared as if from nowhere to divest the arrivals of their outdoor clothes.
‘I’m s-sorry for the short n-notice, Pickering. I hope it hasn’t caused t-too much b-bother.’ Freddie addressed the stony-faced butler, who stood waiting for instructions.
Pickering’s lined face creased into a semblance of a smile. ‘Of course not, my lord. We are always prepared to welcome you and your guests.’
Freddie turned to Felicia and Claude. ‘I’m sure you would like to see your room. We’re rather late for dinner but I expect Mrs Maple will have something set by for us.’
‘I believe she has your favourite, my lord.’
‘Game pie, Pickering?’
‘Made just for you, my lord.’
‘I’ll visit the kitchens and thank her personally.’ Freddie turned to Nancy with a wide smile. ‘Mrs Maple spoils me, Nancy. She used to make my favourite jam tarts when I came back from boarding school.’
Felicia yawned. ‘I’m sure we’re delighted to hear it, my lord, but may we go to our room? I need to change out of my travelling costume and wash some of the railway dirt off my hands and face.’
Pickering beckoned to a young maidservant. ‘The cherry blossom room for Mr and Mrs de Marney, Iris. And the waterlily room for Miss Sunday.’
The chambermaid curtsied to Felicia and Claude. ‘This way, if you please.’ She led them across the hall to the staircase at the far end.
‘Thank you for everything, Freddie,’ Nancy said, smiling. ‘You have a wonderful home. I understand completely why you prefer living here to London.’
‘Tomorrow I’ll show you around the estate. We’ll choose a Christmas tree and have it brought into the house.’
‘That’s what we used to do at home in Rockwood Castle. I love Christmas.’
‘Better follow Iris. You’ll get lost if you try to find your own way, and I don’t think Pickering will approve if I take you upstairs.’ Freddie shot a mischievous smile in Pickering’s direction, which the butler acknowledged with a raised eyebrow and a hint of a smile.
Nancy hurried after Iris, who took Felicia and Claude to their room, and a few doors along a wide landing they came to a stop outside the waterlily room. Nancy entered to find Molly sitting on a pile of cases by the fire, sobbing as if her heart would break.
‘Whatever is the matter?’ Nancy rushed over to her and went down on her knees. ‘Why are you crying? Are you ill?’
Molly wiped her eyes on her sleeve and sniffed. ‘I’m sorry, miss. I thought he would ask me to stay in Highgate but he just said goodbye like it was an ordinary day.’
‘You mean Reuben, of course.’
‘Yes, miss. He seemed shocked that we was leaving so suddenly, but he didn’t pop the question.’
‘I’m so sorry, Molly. I don’t know what to say.’
Molly scrambled to her feet. ‘I shouldn’t bring my troubles to you, miss.’
‘It’s all right. We’re friends, Molly. Just help me to unpack what I need and then I want you to go down to the servants’ hall and get some food. Violet Tinker is here with you, and Mason seems quite a nice person. They’ll look after you, and we’re very near home. Perhaps you’d like to go there for a few days. I could manage on my own.’
‘I’ll be all right, thank you, miss.’ Molly undid the leather straps on one of the valises. ‘I brought some hot water up for you to have a wash.’
‘Unpack a gown for me and then go and get your own meal. I’ll change my clothes and find my own way to the dining room. I expect someone will come and rescue me if I get lost.’
This drew a reluctant smile from Molly, but she busied herself sorting out clean garments for Nancy to wear that evening. In the end Nancy had to almost throw Molly out of the room in order to make her go to the servants’ hall for some food. She hoped that her maid would feel better when she had eaten and had enjoyed a good night’s sleep. If Reuben had been living close by, Nancy would have marched up to his door and demanded to know why he had led Molly on, but he was safe in Highgate, for the time being at least. Nancy was not about to let him get away with such behaviour. She made up her mind to visit him when she returned to London, although when that would be was uncertain. It all depended upon Felicia obtaining a part in another production. Nancy decided to put everything out of her mind other than finding the dining room and enjoying her first meal at Dorrington Place.
She dressed, brushed her hair and tied it back in a simple style with a piece of ribbon. It was getting late and she was hungry. It could not be so difficult to find the dining room, even in a mansion the size of Dorrington Place. However, when she reached the ground floor she was suddenly unsure of herself. There was nobody to ask and she had a choice of going left or right. She found herself in a wide corridor, lit by candles in sconces, which reflected off the glass panes of the windows that stood floor to ceiling along one side. Every few yards another corridor branched off, equally well lit with closed doors hiding rooms as yet unexplored. Nancy walked slowly, hoping to hear the sound of voices or the clatter of cutlery, but when she saw a green baize door, which she suspected led to the servants’ quarters and kitchens below stairs, she knew she had come too far.
She came to a halt as it opened and Freddie almost barged into her.
‘Nancy, are you lost?’
‘I am, of course. It’s such a big house.’
