The smoky room reeked of tobacco and Jane coughed as she entered, which only seemed to enrage Nanny Baines further. She seized the girl by the neck and shoved her down to her knees before the surprised master of the house. ‘I found this pair of reprobates in your summer pavilion, Sir Victor. Imagine that, sir, in your private sanctuary. They were defiling the place with their foulness.’ ‘Really, nurse?’ Hetty saw the old man’s eyes gleam with interest. ‘Tell me more.’ Baines pretended reluctance, but Hetty could tell she was dying to go into detail. ‘I cannot, Sir Victor. Their behaviour was altogether too lewd to be described.’ ‘Now come, Baines, I do not have to order you to reveal all, do I? If these miscreants have done wrong, I need to know about it so the punishment may fit the crime.’ ‘Well, Sir Victor, I went to the summerhouse because I had reason to believe Jane would be there. Now I see it was all a ruse implemented by this audacious young gentleman to get Lady Alice’s girl alone.’ ‘Ah yes, her ladyship is in York with this gentleman’s brother-in-law.’ He leered first at Jane and then at Hetty.
