The children are excited but their father says they must not stay up late. Although Mathilde winds her arms around her father’s neck, he is adamant that their tea will be served in the nursery. He has had cook make up their plates already. And he will thank Miss Malcolm to see that they eat what is put in front of them and that they go to bed on time. They need early beds, he pronounces, for tomorrow he expects them to resume lessons in the afternoon. I’ve heard you’ve been playing truant, naughty things, he chides. As she supervises the children’s meal, Adie Malcolm realises that Hettie, at least, had known the lieutenant would be home, for she has made several dishes. Adie eats modestly when she is alone; her digestion is not what it was. Today, when she calls at the kitchen for the children’s supper, she sees that, as well as the oyster pie, there is roast beef with Yorkshire pudding and vegetables, and a pudding followed by a syllabub. Adie wonders aloud if there will be a number of guests, but Hettie says curtly that if there are, she hasn’t heard about them.
