“I be comin’,” as if he was half-expecting to be reproved for tardiness.

“There is a box to take to Lady Wentmore, who lives in Curzon Street, Bill,” Thalia said, “and would you be very obliging and leave this letter for me at White’s Club? It is not very much out of your way.”

“’Twouldn’t matter if it were,” Bill replied. “I’d do anythin’ to help you, miss. You knows that.”

“Thank you, Bill, it is very kind of you, but be careful of this envelope. It’s rather valuable.”

“Have you ever known me lose anythin’, miss Thalia?”

“There is always a first time, Bill.”

“Not when I be lookin’ after somethin’ as belongs to you, miss.”

“Thank you, Bill. I am very grateful.”

Thalia went upstairs thinking that Lord Dandish with his spite and hatred for her father would have a surprise when he found what the letter contained.

The rest of the day seemed to pass more slowly than usual except when Thalia thought of the Earl and found in those moments that she had no idea of time or anything else.

‘How can he be so kind and so marvellous to me,’ she asked.

And yet she told herself that perhaps it was wrong and dishonest of her to accept such overwhelming generosity and give nothing in exchange.

She was not absolutely certain what happened when a man and a woman made love to each other. She only knew that she had always believed that it was wrong and wicked unless their union was blessed by the Church.

Now she could not help feeling that perhaps if the Earl made love to her it would be as wonderful as his kiss had been.

Then she was shocked by her own thoughts.

Of course it would be wrong and most of all because she would then become, as she had sworn she never would be, his mistress, whatever he might call it.

That would be in her mother’s eyes something so degrading and appalling that she knew Lady Caversham must never, never learn of it.

Walking home with Hannah, Thalia knew that, if she told Hannah what the Earl had suggested, she should become when they first dined together, the maid would not be surprised.

It was the way she had expected a gentleman of the Earl’s standing would behave with those he considered his inferiors. The only thing that would have shocked her was that his invitation was given to someone who had been born a lady and was therefore, in Hannah’s eyes, his equal.

‘That is something he will never consider me to be,’ Thalia thought and felt suddenly as if the sun had gone down and darkness already covered the earth.

Thinking only of herself, she felt ashamed because they were nearly home before she asked Hannah,

“How has Mama been today?”