The baroness swept into the room like an avenging black angel, her cape streaming out behind her. If looks could kill, we’d have been sprawled on the carpet.

I realised that everyone present resented the loss of the Hall as much as my father had done. It represented the passing of an old way of life, of the security of knowing one’s place. I found it very touching.

As my dear Baroness Lehzen used to say, ‘Enough is as good as a feast.

There’s nothing wrong with hunting, in its place. But there are many preferable occupations when in the presence of a young woman.

At least he was useful in some ways. He made good cheese.

I can come up to town, Belinda. It’s not as if I’m going to darkest Africa.

Fill in?” she demanded. “For the weekend?” She winced as if each of these words were causing her pain. “I am afraid we do not handle that sort of thing.” By that she implied that I had requested a stripper straight from the Casbah. So.

How quickly life can change. Well, maybe it was time that it changed again. I was in a beautiful place, staying with a kind woman, and I was going to enjoy myself, whatever the outcome was.

I decided never to eat bacon again. But I happen to adore bacon, so that didn’t last long.

None of this nine or ten nonsense and I don’t care what the parish priest says. There will soon be so many people on this planet that it will be standing room only.