chapter sevenHopkins called the Earl at his usual time in the early morning.
When he had drawn back the curtains, he spoke up,
“Good morning, my Lord. There be a letter come from the British Embassy for you.”
He put it down on the bed beside the Earl and he picked it up.
He recognised at once his secretary’s handwriting and wondered what could be so urgent that he had written again.
Mr. Barrett had already written to say that Sadira’s horse and her dog had been removed from Langbourne Hall to Kensall Park on his Lordship’s explicit instructions. They were both settling down quite happily.
The Earl now opened the letter and the first words he read made him stiffen.
Mr. Barrett had written,
“My Lord,
I am writing to tell you that the newspapers have today announced the death of the
