’He is a clever little devil, Sir Hugo. God help me, but I think he may tumble to it… eventually, that is. ’

‘Then the second part, the part you first suggested to me, shall be a secret agreement between him and me, obtainable for reasons you make clear, and only the first part of the document, concerning guardianship, shall be presented in court. Surely that shall suffice.’

’I believe that would suit, Sir Hugo. Though I still worry that asking him to put his name to so many documents will bring his suspicions up-’

‘To the devil with his suspicions! The means of removal has to come up from Portsmouth, so we shall let that little dammeboy stew in his own skin for a few days. By that time I am sure he shall be most agreeable.’

There was a soft knock on the door, and Belinda entered the room, now dressed in high fashion and bearing a cloak, hat and muff for an evening out. She crossed to her father and planted a gentle kiss on his cheek. He put an ann around her. ’Off, are you?’

‘Lady Margaret is giving a drum," Belinda said calmly. ’Now I shall be fashionably late for it. Did I do well, Father?’

‘Excellently well, my girl. And you shall share in my gratitude and munificence once this is behind us.’

’I never doubted it, Father." She beamed, then bade them both goodnight, leaving Sir Hugo humming to himself, and Pilchard fidgeting as he thought upon his new document's form and content.

"Where's the chamber pot, then?" Alan demanded as he was shoved into a dark: and cheerless garret servant's room at the back of the house. ’Criminals don't deserve none." Morton smirked. ’I'm sure you know about criminals, Morton, you were born one! Candles, too, and a bed. ’