"Miss Pippa," he called.

I turned to him and he looked about him to see if we were being watched. "My mum's got something for you."

"Thank you," I said.

"Says will you go along and get it?"

"Tell her I'll be there as soon as I can."

I had to go carefully. The order was that I was not to go out alone, so when I walked out with Miss Elton I said I wished to call at the Emms' cottage and she waited for me in the field while I went.

Mrs. Emms took a letter out of a drawer.

"Reckon it's that sister of yours," she said. "It come here. And there's one from our Daise. Jenny Brakes read it to me. Doing well, our Daise is. Oh, talk about high society. You can read Daise's. She got Hans to help her. Not much with a pen, our Daise. But I reckon you'll want to see what your sister's writ."

"I'll take it home and read it there and I'll come back and see Daisy's letter tomorrow."

Mrs. Emms nodded and I ran out to Miss Elton. She did not ask what it was I had but I think she guessed, for when I reached Greystone Manor I went straight up to my room. My fingers were trembling as I opened the letter.

It was written on thick white paper almost like parchment, and there was a heavy gold crest on it.

My dearest Pippa,

I am taking the first opportunity to write to you. So much is happening here and I am very happy. Rudolph is everything I ever wanted a husband to be. We were married in Birley Church. Do you remember that church we looked at and liked so much? It caused some delay but Rudolph had arranged it before we left because we had to get away as quickly as possible. Rudolph is very important in his own country. I can't tell you how important.

We are surrounded by intrigue and have our enemies who are trying to rob him of his inheritance. Oh, it is hard to understand when you think of the way we have lived—the island and then Greystone. We didn't know a thing about the outside world, did we? Certainly not a' place like Bruxenstein. There are several dukedoms here. There are margraves and barons, and they all want to be the chief one. But I am digressing. It is no use my trying to explain their politics to you because I don't understand them myself. But it does mean that we live rather dangerously. You want to hear about my adventures, though.

Well, Rudolph said we should be married before we reached Bruxenstein. It must be a fait accompli because there would be people who would try to prevent it. So we were married and I became Baroness von Gruton Fuchs. Fancy me with such a grand name. I call myself Mrs. Fox-Fuchs, you see. It's much easier and it amused Rudolph.

So we were married and crossed the Channel and then we travelled right through France to Germany, finally reaching Bruxenstein. I wish you could see it, but you will. You are coming as soon as everything is settled. Rudolph says that I must not bring you here yet. It would cause trouble. You see he is what is called a great parti which means he is the most eligible man here. He's a sort of heir to the crown ... only it is not a kingdom ... and they wanted him to marry someone else ... someone they had chosen for him. These people will interfere ... just like our grandfather. So it is a little awkward. I know you'll understand. Rudolph has to go carefully.

Well, I have the most wonderful clothes. We stopped a few days in Paris where they were made for me. I kept the blue starry dress. Rudolph said he will always love that one because I wore it on that night you remember. But my things are truly magnificent now. I have a kind of tiara which I wear sometimes.

It would be such fun if you were here. Rudolph says it won't be long. They're afraid of what Daisy always used to call a 'coop.' Remember? They're always having these upheavals ... it's jealousy between the rival members of the family. Some seem to want what others have got.

Now I have a secret to tell you. It's going to make a lot of difference if it's a boy. Yes, Pippa, I'm pregnant. Isn't that wonderful? Just fancy, you'll be an aunt. I tell Rudolph that I can't do without you and he keeps saying soon. He indulges me. I'm so happy. I wish they would stop their stupid quarrels though. I have to keep away from the castle, particularly now I'm pregnant.

Rudolph is afraid for me. You see, if I have a son ... But I'm talking their silly old politics again.

Dear Pippa, be ready at any time. One day you're going to find there is a bustle of preparations at the Grange. Then the army of servants will arrive and I shall be there ... and next time, Pippa, dearest little sister, you are coming with me.

I love you more than ever.

Francine.

I read and reread the letter. I carried it inside my bodice so that I could feel it against my skin. It livened my days and when I was feeling particularly unhappy I read it once more.

The hope that one day when I went past the Grange I should see signs of activity there sustained me through the difficult times.

The days went past more quickly after the first few months. It was the same routine every day: breakfast with my grandfather, Aunt Grace and Cousin Arthur, prayers, lessons and riding with Miss Elton, visits to my grandmother and religious instruction from Cousin Arthur. I hated it and it would have been unendurable but for the long rides I took through the countryside, for by this time I had become an accomplished horsewoman. Then, of course, there were the sessions with my grandmother when we talked about Francine and imagined what was happening to her.

A whole year elapsed before I heard from Francine again. Once more the letter came through Mrs. Emms.

"Dearest Pippa," she wrote.

Don't think for a moment that I have forgotten you. Everything has changed so much since I last wrote.

Then I was making plans for you to come here. Alas, they have all foundered. We had to move about a great deal and now we are living in a sort of exile. If you wrote to me I never received your letter and it may be that you did not get mine either. I expect it is still that dreary routine. Poor Pippa. As soon as everything is all right again you are coming here. I have told Rudolph that I must have my little sister with me. He agrees. He thought you were a darling—although he always says he hadn't eyes for anyone but me. But he wants you to come. He really does.

Now I must tell you about the Great Event. Yes, I am a mother. I have a son, Pippa. Think of that. The most adorable being you could ever imagine. He is fair with blue eyes. I think he is like Rudolph but Rudolph says he is the image of me. He has a grand name: Rudolph (after his father) Otto Friederich von Gruton Fuchs. I call him my little Cub. Fox-cub, you see. I have no need to tell you that Cubby is the most miraculous child that ever was born. From the moment he arrived he showed an amazing grasp of affairs. But what would you expect of my child? I'd love you to see him. Oh you must. We will think of something.

I wish these wretched old troubles would stop. We have to be so careful. It's all quarrelling between the various branches of the family. This one should have the margravate ... or that one should. It is very tiresome and disrupting. Rudolph is always deeply involved. There are secret meetings and comings and goings at the hunting lodge at which we are now staying. Don't imagine it is some poor broken-down place. Nothing of the sort. These margraves and counts and grafs and barons knew how to look after themselves very well. We live in magnificent style but we have to be careful. Rudolph chafes against it. He says that as soon as we are back in the castle I may send for you. I can't wait. I tell Cubby about you. He just stares at me but I swear he is taking it all in because he looks so wise.

My love to you, dear sister. I think of you a great deal. Never fear. I am going to rescue you from Grey-stone Manor.

Francine, the Baroness (Mrs. Fox).

After receiving the letter I lived in a state of euphoria for some weeks. I was constantly going past the Grange, looking for signs of activity. There was none. I called on Mrs. Emms often.

"No letters?" I would ask, and she would shake her head dolefully.

"There's one from Daise. All chuffed up she is. She's married that Hans. She's not with your sister though. She has to be with Hans, you see. She says they're all afraid of some coop or other."

Then I began to be alarmed. I felt so frustrated. This talk of coups and life in a world far removed from the quiet peace of our Victorian England was hard to imagine. Everything about the Grange and its inhabitants had seemed to belong to a highly coloured romantic world where the strangest adventures were possible. It was something I could have imagined and talked of with Francine, but the unreality of it all had come too close and Francine was drawn into it.

I prayed for her safety every night. That was a new element now. Fear for her safety.

There was another letter. This time it was all about the child. It was more than three years since Francine had left and her little Cubby must be eighteen months old now. He was beginning to talk and she could hardly bear him out of her sight. She talked to him about his Aunty Pippa.

He likes the word Pippa and keeps saying it. It's strange how they like some words, and Pippa is a word which certainly appeals. He has a funny little toy. They call it a troll here. This troll goes to bed with him and he sucks its ear. He won't go to sleep without it. He calls it Pippa. There you are, sister. There is a troll named after you.

You would love my baby. He is perfect.

Your sister Francine.

That was the last letter I had had for a long time and I was very anxious. Mrs. Emms said there was no news from Daisy either.

I was getting older too, and those clouds which had seemed merely shadows on the horizon were beginning to gather overhead.

I had been only twelve when Francine had gone, and now I was approaching my sixteenth birthday. There were ominous signs. My grandfather was taking an interest in me. He invited me to ride round the estate with him and I remembered how he had taken Francine. He was more affable to me. When I went riding with him, Cousin Arthur came with us. Gradually I began to grasp the significance of this.

He had washed his hands of Francine, but he had another granddaughter and in a short time she would be of a marriageable age.

My sixteenth birthday was celebrated with a dinner party to which several of the surrounding families were invited.

Jenny Brakes made a taffeta dress for me in a rather grownup style and Miss Elton told me that my grandfather had expressed the wish—no, command—that I put my hair up for the occasion.

This was done and I looked quite grown-up. I had an inkling of what was planned for my seventeenth birthday.

When I sat side by side with Cousin Arthur, he would place his hand on my knee and I would feel my whole being recoil from him. I tried not to show my repugnance and for the first time since Francine had left I became obsessed with my own problem. I hated Cousin Arthur's cold flabby hands for I could guess what he was thinking.

I was able to talk to my grandmother of my fears.

"Yes," she agreed, "it is coming and you might as well realize it. Your grandfather is going to insist that you marry your Cousin Arthur."

"I will not," I replied, as firmly as Francine had said it in the past.

"He will insist, I fear. I don't know what he will do, but it will be impossible for you to stay here if you do not agree."

"What can I do?"

"We must think," she said.

I talked it over with Miss Elton. She was rather anxious herself because she could see her post coming to an end. My grandmother said that the only way out, as far as she could see, was for me to take some post and she thought that I should be looking around for something, for such situations were not easy to find and my grandfather might try to force me into an engagement at any time now. The wedding would probably be planned for my seventeenth birthday, but I would have to be prepared before that.

I had not felt so depressed since the first months after Francine's departure. I was worried about her because there were no more letters, but my personal problem was so acute. ... As far as I could see, my only way out was to take some post and I gave a good deal of thought to that prospect.