They enjoyed another one of Aubrey's leisurely breakfasts the next morning, which was a Saturday. Aubrey had arrived back very late, after they had gone to bed, and Jayne wasn't sure if he would be up much before noon. But there he was, in his imperial purple dressing gown, doing something marvellous with eggs.

"Mrs H won't let me touch a pan when she's around," Aubrey said, referring to his housekeeper. "My cordon bleu skills have developed in rebellion to her iron rule."

"She keeps a very tidy house," Margaret Cade said. She had been a little disconcerted by the presence of Mrs H, having anticipated doing some cooking and housework herself for Aubrey in recompense for his hospitality. Finding a highly capable, rather stately woman already keeping the rooms...

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