Tobias' lips tightened when his brother addressed him as 'Toby'. Nathan continued straight away to recount his misfortunes and then made everything worse.

"Oh no, that's..." he began. But Mrs. Carpenter already corrected him.

"Alice is laying in. She gave birth two days ago. She's poorly, hence Mrs. Carpenter's presence. I would have written to you to let you know, but everything's been rather hectic." And even if it hadn't been, the truth was that he wouldn't have written to inform his brother until nine months after the wedding. His brother visited so rarely that Tobias had believed he would get away with it.

"Please, Mrs. Carpenter. We wouldn't want to chase you away." Tobias said out of politeness rather than truthfulness. "Do sit down, Nathan. Jenny!"

The young maid appeared from the kitchen, staring at the stranger who looked so much like her employer.

"Aye ser?"

"Bring out an extra plate, will you? And some brandy for my brother."