“I am waiting to try on another bonnet!” Lady Wentmore called out sharply.

Hardly realising what she was doing, Thalia picked up the nearest to her hand and placed it on her Ladyship’s head.

“You were saying you had a surprise for Sir Denzil,” Lady Wentmore prompted him, as Thalia tied the ribbons under her chin. “What sort of surprise?”

“It’s one he will not relish, or forget in a hurry,” Lord Dandish answered.

There was an unpleasant note in his voice that made Thalia hold her breath.

“Do tell me what it is, Arthur, and stop being so mysterious,” Lady Wentmore coaxed. “I always had rather a partiality for Sir Denzil. He was so attractive and danced exceedingly well.”

“When he comes back to England, you will not be dancing with him for a long time,” Lord Dandish replied.

“Why not?” Lady Wentmore enquired.

“Because, my dear, he will be in the Fleet!”

“In prison? What do you mean, Arthur, and why should he go to prison?”

“Because that is where I intend to send him,” Lord Dandish said. “You could hardly believe it, but the damned fellow slipped out of the country owing me one thousand pounds!”

There was no doubt that he had aroused his sister’s interest, for she turned from the mirror to face him.

“One thousand pounds, Arthur? How did he come to owe you so much?”

“A debt of honour, my dear, at least it is to those who are honourable!”

“Oh, you mean cards!”

“Yes, I mean cards,” Lord Dandish snapped. “Caversham gave me his IOU, but I learnt that it was as worthless as the paper it was written on.”

“Are you telling me that was why he went abroad?” Lady Wentmore asked.

“Mine was not the only debt he owed. I hear he was heavily indebted to his tradesmen and decided to vanish. Damned unsporting, if you ask me. No gentleman would behave in such a manner!”

“It sounds very unlike Sir Denzil to me,” Lady Wentmore said, turning back to the mirror, “and doubtless when he returns he will repay you.”

“I am making sure of that,” Lord Dandish said, “by taking out a warrant for his arrest.”

Lady Wentmore gave a little cry.

“Oh, Arthur, that would be too cruel! I cannot bear to think of someone of Sir Denzil’s elegance incarcerated in that horrible debtor’s prison at the Fleet. I hear the conditions there are intolerable!”

“It will teach him a lesson,” Lord Dandish said with satisfaction, “and personally, I never cared for the fellow myself, despite the fact that you and your friends fluttered around him like a lot of stupid moths round a candle!”

He paused to add,

“You did not get your wings burnt, I did! I intend to make him suffer, if it’s the last thing I do!”