* * *
The fact that her great uncle was almost a recluse had not escaped Julia’s notice. Mrs Knight had unbent sufficiently for her to be able to enquire at length about his daily routine and Julia had then begged to be allowed to relieve that lady of any tasks in which she could assist.
One task was to read aloud to her great uncle from the Morning Post after breakfast in his room. There had been discontented mutterings at first, and Julia felt some qualms as she had when reading to Queen Charlotte, but it had passed off better than expected, except when government policies caused him to fly into a passion. Julia soon learned to be prepared for this.
On Tuesday morning he seemed more responsive to her reading than the previous day, so, at the conclusion, she ventured to ask her great uncle about Sir Henry Wentworth and his family.
‘Humph, a relative newcomer, Miss. Don’t want them here. I can’t afford to entertain the district. Don’t want to anyway, pack of mamby pamby law-abiding hypocritical…’
Julia hastened to soothe him. ‘It’s all right, sir. I have no intention of inviting anyone here without your consent. Rest easy, I beg of you.’
He continued to glare malevolently and muttered something unintelligible. It was some time before Julia could pacify him and, with relief, return to her room.