She stumbled a little over the word ‘Ladyship’.
Because it was so unlike Nanny to speak in such a subservient way, Noella wanted to put her arms around her and kiss her.
But she realised that it would undoubtedly bring a rebuke from Jasper Raven, so she merely reached out and laid her hand over Nanny’s.
“This is an adventure, Nanny dear, so let’s try to enjoy it.”
“That is a sensible attitude,” Jasper Raven approved, “but, unless one takes care, an adventure can end in disaster.”
He was deliberately trying to frighten her, Noella thought and she wanted to reply that, if the worst came to the worst, they could always turn round and go back home.
Then she thought that she was being ungrateful and merely said,
“You know I want to thank you, ‘Cousin Jasper’.”
This was what he had told
