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yet.”
    “Doesn’t mean it won’t,” Emma snapped.
    “Girls, please,” Mr Bennet sighed. “Might we have one – just one – peaceful Sunday breakfast?”
    “More coffee, daddy?” Charlotte asked, and brought the pot to the table.
    “Yes, I will, thank you.”
    “I might have another way to raise money to pay for a new roof for Litchfield Manor.” Emma toyed with her spoon as she glanced at her father. “A way that doesn’t involve seeking money from our neighbours.”
    “Oh?” He spooned sugar into his cup. “What’s that?”
    “
Mind Your Manors
.”
    He paused, cup halfway to his lips. “I thought I was.”
    “It’s a TV programme, daddy,” Charlotte cut in as she refilled her sister’s cup, “where they go to old manor houses and help do them up into spas or hotels or something.”|
    “Really? I can’t see anyone willing to pay to stay here at Litchfield Manor.” He chuckled. “Can you imagine? Instead of chocolates on the pillows, our guests would find damp spots from the leaking roof. Dog wee on the floor. Things that go bump in the night – our old boiler, for instance.”
    “I’m glad you find it so amusing.” Emma set her cup down with a crack. “But we need to do
something
, daddy, before this entire place collapses on our heads.”
    “I doubt those telly people would consider coming here,” Charli scoffed. “Litchfield Manor isn’t a ginormous, multi-chimneyed house like the ones on the programme, and it isn’t even grade-I or II listed. It isn’t even all that old.”
    “I don’t agree. I think they
would
consider coming here. I think we stand as much chance to be chosen as anyone else.” Emma spoke with a conviction she didn’t, truthfully, feel. She knew her sister and father were both probably right but she refused to admit it.
    “Well,” Mr Bennet allowed as rain began to fall outside, “I suppose there’s no harm in it. Go ahead and apply, or petition, or whatever it is one must do to be considered for the programme. Because the likelihood of Litchfield Manor actually being chosen is laughably small.”
    He’d barely finished speaking when the rain began pelting down, rushing down the gutters and drumming on the roof.
    “Good thing Elton’s already been let out,” Emma said, and gave Charli a pointed look as she carried her dishes to the sink. She gazed out the window at the already-sodden ground. “Otherwise he’d be soaked and we’d have muddy paw prints everywhere.”
    “Honestly, Emma,” Charlotte snapped, “can’t you do
anything
but criticise and find fault –?”
    “Blast!” Mr Bennet grimaced and pushed himself to his feet. He rubbed his neck and stared as his hand came away wet.
    Rain, in steady drips, leaked from the ceiling onto the seat he’d just abandoned. “Well! It seems we’ve sprung a new leak,” he muttered, and took the pot Emma handed him and placed it on his chair. “Perhaps you’re right, Em. I think we really
do
need to do something about this roof.”

Chapter 8
    On Monday, Martine appeared at Litchfield Manor with her mother, Mrs Davies. Together they set about scrubbing, polishing, Hoovering and dusting until, despite the rain that continued to fall and the leaks that dripped noisily into the various pots and bowls set out, the house began to sparkle.
    “I can’t thank you enough, Mrs Davies.” Emma carried in the tea tray and set it down in the sitting room. “The house is transformed. Please, help yourselves to tea and biscuits.”
    “Many thanks, miss. Don’t mind if I do.” Martine’s mother laid her dust cloth aside and came over to inspect the tray. “Ooh, Bourbon biscuits! Them’s my favourite.” She reached out for a napkin and placed two inside and thrust it in her pocket. “I’ll save ’em for later, if you don’t mind.”
    “Not at all.” Emma smiled politely and retreated to the kitchen.
    Like her daughter, Mrs Davies was cheery and possessed of unflagging energy, cleaning and clearing