Annabel looked more shocked than amused by the incident. 'Sofia, you really shouldn't have yelled at him like that. It's most unladylike. I'm surprised he didn't reprimand you.'
'We understand each other, he yells at me and I yell back. His temper is fearsome but inside he's the kindest man and I'm sure in time will learn to be less abrasive.'
'He just told you that he's no intention of changing and neither have you. I refuse to be involved in this nonsense between you. He might not put you over his knee but I wouldn't put it past him to give you a good shaking if you continue to anger him like that.'
'I promise to try harder to be a demure young lady. We must hurry and see what there is, as poor Mary is too scared to go down to eat with the other staff and I don't blame her.'
Arm in arm they hurried along the passageway and were delighted to see Billy, the footman who'd brought the ill-fated clothes to her yesterday, standing at the door to greet them.
'Cook has sent up a chafing dish. The hot water underneath the dish means that the contents remain warm.'
Sofia realised it also meant that their breakfast had been cooked earlier and might well be somewhat tasteless by now.
Annabel was less bothered by this information. She snatched up a plate and lifted the lid of the first big silver dish.
'Mushrooms, eggs and tomatoes – my absolute favourite for breakfast,' she trilled and began to pile her plate.
Billy enquired politely what they would like to drink with their meal. She preferred coffee to chocolate or tea, but Annabel wanted chocolate.
'I'm not sure there'll be any coffee today, miss, what with everything being different down there. Someone will be up with the toasted bread, and the marmalade, butter and conserve are already on the table.'
Sofia's concern about the food was unfounded, it was delicious and had suffered no ill effects from being kept in the silver dish. The toast arrived, hot and crisp as she liked it, and apart from not having her favourite drink she thought the meal a triumph.
'There must be an orangery, a hothouse, somewhere for us to have freshly squeezed juice like this,' she said to Annabel.
'It's quite wonderful, everything's wonderful. I'm so happy I could burst.'
Sofia smiled at her enthusiasm. 'I think it's more likely to be greed that will cause me to burst, but I'm glad that you're content.'
After breakfast they donned their bonnets and walked across the sheep-manicured grass to investigate the maze. This proved a disappointment as it was overgrown and impossible to enter.
'What a shame, I was so looking forward to getting lost in there,' Annabel said.
'I don't suppose that James has given it a second thought. Shall we find a gardener and ask him to cut it back so we can walk through it and get delightfully lost.'
They found two in the kitchen garden tending to the fruit, salad leaves and vegetables that were grown to feed the household and those that worked on the estate. When Sofia explained why they were there the two men grinned.
'If that ain't the best news we've heard for years, it's a right shame the maze has been left like what it is,' the older gardener said. 'We'll soon get it perfect for you, miss, it'll be our pleasure.'
'Thank you, how long do you think it's going to take?' Sofia asked.
'I reckon the two of us will get it done in a week. Mind you, we'll have to get permission to do it from Mr Johnson, head gardener here.'
'Then please do that as soon as you may.'
Sofia and Annabel walked around the acre of kitchen garden admiring everything and stealing one or two raspberries and strawberries as they passed. As they were strolling towards the house Sofia stopped and stared.
'Good heavens, Annabel, three carriages are coming up the drive. From the amount of luggage piled on the middle one the occupants have come to stay.'
'Oh my, whoever can it be? What are we going to do, Sofia, the house is in disarray and the earl has gone to Bath to collect your second sister.'
'I cannot answer your first question, dearest, but I am confident we can deal with the second. James keeps insisting that we are now his family, so I think it perfectly acceptable for us to greet whoever these arrivals are.'
Annabel shook her head, her face pinched. 'No, I cannot see anybody, you're a Brotherton, I am an illegitimate nobody. I shall remain in my room until you send for me.'
'You're Miss Annabel Sinclair, absolutely nobody else is aware or ever will be aware of your slightly unusual history. Neither your mother nor Mr Sinclair will reveal it, and we certainly shan't.'
'What about my half-brothers? They are as nasty as their father and if they can do damage to myself or my mama then I don't think they have the wit to realise that they'd be damaging themselves as well.'
