She opened a door and found to her surprise that she was in a very strange-looking place and in it was a woman.
For a moment, because the woman had her back to the light, it was impossible to see her face.
Then, as Jemima moved further forward, the woman looked up, gave an exclamation and curtseyed.
“I think you must be the new Viscountess Ockley,” she said in a nervous but cultivated voice. “I do hope, my Lady, you will forgive me for being here without calling on you, but I did ask your manservant and he said that his Lordship was not as yet ‒ receiving anyone.”
The words seemed to fall over themselves in her anxiety to explain her presence and Jemima smiled as she held out her hand.
“We have had rather a lot to do since we arrived,” she replied. “Will you tell me your name?”
“Of c
