Catherine was doing a round of morning calls. She used to accompany her mother or sisters, but now she was old enough to go on her own, accompanied only by Sarah, who would wait in the hall. Her mother had a migraine and all of her sisters were busy. Catherine didn't mind. She felt quite the lady on her own.

Marigold Burgh had said that she had heard from Donna and Josephine Leslie who had called just before Cathy that they had heard from Mrs. Clifford that the Ripleys were back in Whitby. And so Catherine had decided to pay a call. She had heard that the daughter, Jane, was in a wheelchair after a fall. She remembered the girl from long ago, but had never been close to her, and she had not seen her since the accident. The only other thing she knew about Jane Ripley was that she was about the same age as herself; although two years had seemed an insurmountable impediment to friendship when they were children, they were both 'young ladies' now. Catherine hoped she would make a new friend.

When she reached the mansion, she stepped up to the front door and knocked. Sarah waited a respectful few feet behind her.