The waiter handed Thalia a glass from which she took only a tiny sip, knowing that it would be a very great mistake if she became muddle-minded from alcohol and remembering that it was hours since she had eaten anything.

Hannah always packed her a light luncheon to take with her to eat in the workroom at Mrs. Burton’s shop.

Some of the women would go out for a little while at midday to buy themselves food from the stalls that were always to be found in side streets, or just to stretch their legs.

But Thalia had promised her mother that she would go nowhere alone and had no wish to do so. Besides which there was always far too much to do in the workroom.

Because she was so skilful at trimming the bonnets she was well aware that Mrs. Burton made her do the work of two people and she not only trimmed herself the fashionable creations she made so skilfully but also sold them.

The dinner she had eaten with the Earl had been rich and delicious and Thalia was now wondering how she could explain what had been on the menu to Hannah so that she could copy some of the dishes she had enjoyed for her mother.

“Is there anything else you would like?” the Earl asked.

“It would be impossible to eat anything more!” Thalia replied. “I only wish that I were a camel and then I would not have to eat for at least a week after such a delicious dinner.”

“You are too thin,” the Earl commented. “Is that because you wish to be fashionable or because you usually don’t have enough to eat?”

“I have enough now that I am fortunate in being able to earn the money to buy food with.”

“I cannot believe that Mrs. Burton is over-generous.”

Thalia smiled.

“I am told that she is typical of all the Bond Street shopkeepers who extract astronomical sums from their clients, but pay their work people as little as possible.”

“That is what I thought,” the Earl said, “and I have another proposition to put to you.”

“Proposition?” Thalia asked.

He looked at her for a long moment before he continued,

“You must be aware that a milliner’s is not the right background for anyone as lovely as yourself.”

He saw Thalia’s eyes widen in surprise and went on,

“Are you going to be so mock-modest as to tell me that you are not aware of your beauty?”

“Of course I should like to think I am beautiful,” Thalia answered, “but, when I compare myself with the acknowledged beauties who come to the shop like the one you were with today or indeed with Mademoiselle Genevieve, I am well aware of my deficiencies.”

“If you have any, I cannot see them.”