Selena blinked. Hugh suspected that she would need to write more than one note, recounting the sudden change of plan. He supposed that the recipients of these notes might be men Selena preferred to keep away from her brother’s notice. He must keep a closer eye on his sister in future.

A spring sun shone so brightly that no lady would dare venture out without a parasol. Selena and Lucy took trouble with their appearance, and Hugh had to admit that both looked charming. They wore bonnets embroidered with spring flowers and embellished with bright ribbons. Selena had on a new walking dress. Her choice of rose pink enhanced her blossoming beauty and her delicate complexion glowed with pleasure. Her friend, in more dashing yellow, provided a perfect foil for Selena’s delicate figure.

Hugh drove the carriage sedately behind a pair of matched chestnuts. The sun had brought many young people out to take the air, so progress was slow. Every acquaintance must be acknowledged and a few words bestowed on the ladies’ favourites. Hugh maintained a perfect demeanour of affable brotherliness, while only an occasional twitch of the lips betrayed any secret amusement. He would have enjoyed a conversation with Philomena on the occasion.

“Oh,” Lucy exclaimed. “I do believe that is Mr. Muldrow over there, with that group by the elm trees. Look, Selena, do you not see him? He is looking this way.”

Hugh glanced at his sister in time to see her dig her elbow into her friend’s ribs. “Look, there is Major Cornwell.” Selena spoke loudly and pointed in the other direction.

Her friend, a little slow on the uptake, finally took the hint and turned her attention to a group of officers. Their proximity to the carriage forced Hugh to halt and engage in a few moments of conversation. Selena quickly established that all parties except Hugh had seen the latest play, and that the ladies were breathlessly awaiting invitations to attend the young Queen’s Fancy Dress ball.

The conversation turned to newspaper accounts of the latest political arguments. The officers were keen to hear Hugh’s opinion as a member of the House of Lords, on the demands of the Chartists for all men to have a vote.

“If that were their only demand,” Hugh said, “I would find it difficult to condemn them, for I do not believe that the gentry I see here in their finery, with nothing in their heads but flirting, have any better sense than a poor man who labours all hours to feed his family.”

A shocked silence fell. Selena fluttered her fan. “Oh, take no notice of Hugh. He is out of sorts today and will say anything to start an argument. Is that not so, Hugh?”

Hugh flicked the reins, nodded at the officers and trotted on.

“Brother, we will have no acquaintance left at all if you talk so,” Selena scolded.