I was pleased to see the housemaids had displayed all of our china to advantage on the sideboard. My careful directions for the food had reaped dividends. Although we called the meal ‘supper’, it was heartier than most dinners: jellies, pyramids of fruit, mixed nuts, pigs’ trotters and marzipan all took their place. The only oversight was Mrs Pearce’s Cabinet Pudding – it was nowhere to be found. What a terrible shame.
