Miss Pemberton and her trunks arrived two days later. With Blackie’s help she turned part of the into a schoolroom and then Blackie went on a long overdue holiday to her family in Somerset. She and Isobel had discussed it at some length and concluded that not only did the nurse need the rest, but it would be best for Laura who would not be able to play Miss Pemberton off against Blackie, who warned Isobel that she was quite bright enough to do so.
Isobel saw no reason to inform a poor Blackie’s holiday. It was, she concluded, well within her remit as the mistress of the household and he did not seem to notice her absence which was far less noticeable in town than in the country house. The household settled down a few more weeks in London as Laura adjusted to a new routine. It was best to
