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nothing would change her.
    And so we passed a pleasant afternoon in Charles Corby’s company, but when we returned to the house and he sped away in his boat, I noticed Georgiana seemed subdued and quiet.
    â€˜Is anything wrong, Georgiana?’ I asked, for she was never sulky or cross for long, it was not her nature.
    Georgiana smiled immediately, but I knew it was an effort. ‘Of course not, how could there be?’ And she linked her arm with mine.
    As we entered the hall, Bassett was emerging from his study. Georgiana ran to him at once and he swung her round playfully.
    I watched them and thought how wonderful it must be to be loved by a brother like Bassett Courtney. I had not only missed the joy of having real parents to bring me up, I thought, I had missed also being part of a family.
    â€˜Bassett,’ Georgiana was saying, ‘I have been thinking for some time now, it is time Louella was shown the Courtney dagger, is it not? And you are the one to show her. Will you?’
    Bassett turned and smiled at me, his brown eyes kindly.
    â€˜Why, of course, If Louella is interested.’
    â€˜This is the first I have heard of it, but yes, I should like to see it.’
    â€˜We’ll go this minute,’ cried Georgiana and she dragged Bassett away by his arm. We all laughed and gaily Georgiana led the way to the portrait gallery which she had shown me on the day of my arrival.
    We went past the portraits of the Courtney ancestors to a door half-way down one side of the long gallery hidden behind a blue velvet curtain.
    Bassett lifted the curtain, opened the door and held it for us to pass into the room.
    I gasped as I looked round. The room was filled with priceless silverware, clocks, china and jewellery. I had never seen such valuable articles nor so many all together.
    â€˜These are the Courtney riches in possessions, Louella,’ Bassett explained. ‘You will go a long way before you find a larger collection.’
    But as he spoke there was no note of pride in his voice as one might expect. He was merely making a statement. He led me to a large glass case at one side of the room. In it were two silver tankards, a gold watch, a silver bracelet, a diamond necklace and one of pearls, and other small articles. But all were overshadowed by a magnificent dagger lying on a black velvet cushion in the centre of the case. It was solid gold with three large rubies on its handle, and six smaller diamonds spaced out down the blade which finished in a wicked point, the sharpness a jewel itself.
    â€˜The Courtney dagger,’ Bassett murmured, and this time his tone was full of pride. ‘It is the only thing in this room which I care about, Louella.’
    Gently, he unlocked the case and lifted the dagger out. All three of us stared at the beautiful but dangerous weapon.
    â€˜Shouldn’t it be locked away somewhere safer than a glass case?’ I queried, ‘if it so very valuable.’
    Bassett smiled.
    â€˜No one can get into Courtney Hall and as far as this without someone knowing, I am sure,’ Bassett said frowning slightly. ‘The only danger comes from those within Courtney Hall itself. But I think the servants are all honest and trustworthy.’
    â€˜Tell her the story about the dagger,’ urged Georgiana.
    â€˜Many years ago, almost three hundred, one of our ancestors, Sir William Courtney, went to war for Queen Elizabeth. He won many battles and succeeded in gaining Her Majesty’s particular notice. As a token of her gratitude for his bravery and loyalty to her and his country, she presented him with this dagger, saying that he should never let it go from the Courtney family, but that it should be passed down from generation to generation.
    â€˜Over the years, the superstition grew around the Courtney dagger that as long as it was in the possession of the Courtneys they would prosper and flourish, it did not,’ Bassett’s tone hardened