“Here’s what I be lookin’ for,” she said. “You takes it with you, Miss Thalia. You might find it useful.”

She held out her hand as she spoke and, when Thalia saw what was in it, she gave a little gasp.

“A pistol, Hannah!”

“It’s your Papa’s and it’s loaded. I could only find one bullet, so if you have to use it, you have only one chance.”

“I cannot! I cannot take it!” Thalia said. “It was because Papa shot a man that we are in this situation now.”

“I know that,” Hannah replied stolidly, “but there’s worse things to be afraid of than firearms and you takes this pistol with you, Miss Thalia, in case you need it.”

Thalia recognised that she was talking sense.

She also realised that the pistol was a small one that she now remembered her father carried in the evening when he drove some distance to a party.

There were always highwaymen and footpads to be wary of in every part of the country.

Although Thalia never remembered their being held up or robbed, there were always stories of other people who had unpleasant experiences when, with nothing to defend themselves with, they had been obliged meekly to hand over their valuables.

It struck her that she might be in the same position, obliged to do anything the Earl demanded of her because she would be quite unable to fight him, if that was how their evening ended.

“Perhaps you are right, Hannah,” she said. “It’s always wise to be prepared.”

She took the pistol from the maid and put it in the satin bag she carried, which was attached to her arm by ribbons.

It was heavy, but at least she thought it unlikely that the Earl would be aware of it and she thought that she must be careful if she opened the bag to obtain her handkerchief that he did not see what was inside.

“Now I must go,” she said.

Hannah did not reply. She merely walked stolidly and slowly ahead of her as if, Thalia thought with a hint of amusement, she was taking her to her execution instead of to the front door.

It was just beginning to grow dark, but it was quite easy to see the Earl standing a little way up the road.

As Thalia walked towards him, she was aware that he was looking particularly resplendent in an evening cloak thrown back over one shoulder.

Beneath it he was wearing full evening dress with the exception that instead of knee-breeches, he had on the long ‘drainpipe’ trousers that had just been introduced as a new fashion.

As Thalia reached him, she was aware how insignificant and nondescript she must appear in contrast.