“I happened to find it today⁠—and I’d never seen it before. I think it’s a darling place. I could sit there sometimes, couldn’t I?”

“Was Mellors there?”

“Yes! That’s how I found it: his hammering. He didn’t seem to like my intruding at all. In fact he was almost rude when I asked about a second key.”

“What did he say?”

“Oh nothing: just his manner; and he said he knew nothing about keys.”

“There may be one in father’s study. Betts knows them all; they’re all there. I’ll get him to look.”

“Oh do!” she said.

“So Mellors was almost rude?”

“Oh, nothing, really! But I don’t think he wanted me to have the freedom of the castle, quite.”