'We can't stand here bandying words, Annabel, we must go inside and let the staff know they must prepare rooms for whoever's coming and that refreshments must be brought up to the drawing room immediately.'
There was nothing she could do to dissuade her friend and this meant Sofia had to deal with the situation on her own. Billy was at his usual position by the drawing-room door. She quickly explained the situation and he dashed off to set things in motion.
It would be another fifteen minutes before the carriages arrived therefore Sofia decided to venture down the passageway where James had his study in the hope that she might locate either his man of business or his secretary. They would know exactly what to do even if she didn't.
The study door was open and the two dogs must have heard her coming as they were waiting just inside the door, brown eyes shining and long tails wagging.
'Good morning, lovely boys, I cannot stop and talk but I promise I'll come back and see you in a minute.'
Mr Smithers, the secretary, must have heard her speaking as he appeared at the adjacent door. 'Good morning, Miss Brotherton, can I be of assistance?'
When she'd finished explaining he smiled. 'I think this calls for reinforcements, I'll go at once and fetch the Dowager Countess. If these are unwanted guests, she'll send them away and if it's someone acceptable she'll welcome them.'
Sofia clapped her hands to her mouth – a gesture she'd developed as a child and had tried hard to abandon as an adult. 'Botheration, I'd quite forgotten about the countess. Is she the earl's grandmama?'
Smithers nodded. 'A redoubtable old lady, and not to be trifled with. She and the earl don't get on which is why she remains in the East Wing and is rarely seen here in his domain.'
'Then that probably means she knows nothing about us. This could be a very interesting encounter for both her ladyship and me.' She smiled. 'I have a similar, elderly relative, a great aunt, who I love dearly but spend as little time with as possible. If she and my younger sister can be persuaded to abandon Hilltop House the two of them might enjoy each other's company.'
