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prejudice you either one way or the other. Indeed, I will welcome the opinion of an outsider when you have had an opportunity to judge of Hetty’s condition.’
    There was some sense in that. Yet it laid her open not only to unknown horrors, but also to dealing awry with the child due to ignorance. ‘Surely there must be something I should know—at least that which may help me to deal with the situation when it arises?’
    Lord Jarrow shook his head. ‘Duggan knows just what to do, and she will call upon my aid if she cannot manage.’
    Nell was not at all satisfied, but it would be futile to argue. It was evident that her employer’s mind was made up. She temporised.
    ‘May I not meet the child then? Hetty, I think you said?’
    ‘Henrietta. She is likely preparing for bed. For tonight, you need only make yourself at home. I dare say you will wish to wash away the stains of travel. Do not trouble to change, however. We rarely do so. Dinner was put back to await your arrival, but we dine in half an hour. I will come myself to fetch you.’
    Nell began to offer a word of thanks, but Lord Jarrow was already walking away. She watched him turn into the tower curve, and nearly opened her mouth to call him back. How dared he leave her flat after what had passed? The least he could have done was to try to calm such spectres as he had raised! Then she recalled that he was her employer and there was no question of his daring anything. He might do as he chose.
    Turning into the bedchamber given over for her use, she sighed as she shut the door. Why in the world had she not taken up the promising position that had beenoffered to her on the very day the Duck had received Lord Jarrow’s letter? Had she been blinded by her own pride, or seduced by an ambition that must be counted as silly as any that Kitty had voiced?
    ‘A widower, Nell! And a baron too. The two of you alone together in a Gothic castle! What could be more romantic? I do wish the Duck would let me go instead. I know you will never take advantage of such an opportunity, whereas I should be at pains to make Lord Jarrow fall in love with me!’
    But it had not been the impossible dream of romance that had lured Nell. Nothing could have been further from her mind. It was the idea of a challenge that had caught at her. Not for Helen Faraday the cosy domesticity of a country house, with two or three sedate little girls to be brought up to take their chances in the marriage mart. Oh, no. She must needs throw away a secure tenure in a respectable family, which could have kept her employed for the next fifteen years. Instead she had opted for the glimmer of danger, the excitement of chance and hazard. What a fool, preening herself upon her capabilities of management! Allowing her head to be turned with the oft-repeated notion that Nell—and only Nell!—could be counted upon to deal with the difficult girls. And it had brought her to this!
    ‘I have a good mind not to unpack you at all,’ she informed the two portmanteaux. They, naturally enough, returned no answer. Nell sighed again. ‘All the same, I shall have to do so, for I need my night things. It is far too late to run away today.’
    Yet as she lifted the first one on to the bed and began to undo the straps, that devil of pride within her raised its head. After all, even if Henrietta did prove to be unbalanced, she was only a little girl. Was it beyond Nell’spowers to learn how to deal with her? She did not think so. Besides, she did so hate to be thought incapable!
    She thrust the portmanteau open with determined hands. His lordship supposed her to be too young, did he? A little demonstration for his benefit might not go amiss.
     
    The butler served the meal, receiving dishes from an unseen minion outside the dining-room door. Contrary to Nell’s expectation, the atmosphere was both lively and convivial, for which she undoubtedly had to thank the presence of Lord Jarrow’s brother-in-law.
    Mr