‘Nicolas,’ Freddie said. ‘This is Theo Miller – I believe you’ve heard of him.’

Nicolas bowed, and I wondered, sluggishly, why he would have heard of me.

‘And where’s your charming wife?’ Freddie asked.

‘Sylvie? She’s been captured by that brute, Carberry.’

I had to look down at my feet to stop myself from staring wide-eyed at him; so this was the Comte de Croÿ, my fat, old Frenchman who spoke no English.

‘Another admirer?’ Freddie said. ‘Theo, you’ve got company.’

My cheeks burned to hear how obvious I’d been. I wished I could laugh it off, but I couldn’t think of anything to say.

‘More accurate to say we all do,’ Nicolas said.

‘You French are so damn philosophical.’

Nicolas bowed again and I caught sight of Sylvie over his head.

She was walking in our direction. A dark-haired couple were walking behind her, the man looking at Sylvie’s behind. I didn’t like his expression, or his skull-like face. His hairline was receding, and his eyes were small and close-set. The brunette with him had a rather large nose and pointy teeth, but nice eyes and an open smile, which she turned on me as they approached.

‘A word of warning,’ Nicolas said quietly to me, ‘John Carberry is the devil. Don’t listen to a word he says.’

‘Hello, boys,’ Sylvie said, and I got a wave of her perfume.

‘Hello, darling,’ Nicolas said.

‘Hello, trouble,’ Freddie said.

Sylvie shook her head. ‘It’s hard to be troublesome when you’re sober.’

‘Surely not?’

‘Surely yes.’

‘Let me save you,’ Freddie said, but Nicolas held up his hand.

‘That’s my cue, Freddie. You stay here and look after Sylvie.’

‘Thank you, darling,’ Sylvie said.

Nicolas gave the dark-haired couple a half-bow and left. I was sorry. Freddie and Sylvie were smiling at each other now in a way that felt exclusive, and when he kissed her hand I felt a shiver run along my neck.

I looked over at the two strangers. The man had on a mocking smile.

‘Another husband bites the dust, Freddie?’ he said. His voice was flat and had an unusual accent.

Freddie straightened up and Sylvie rolled her eyes. Neither of them looked at all embarrassed.

‘I didn’t expect to see you here, Carberry,’ Freddie said, then turned to me. ‘John and Bubbles, this is Theo Miller.’

‘Maia Anderson,’ Carberry said. ‘Bubbles is a stupid name.’

Sylvie turned away with an angry expression on her face, and I guessed she had the same reaction to Carberry that I had.

‘Where’s Roderigo?’ I asked her.

‘Edie took him to The Norfolk,’ she said, and smiled wickedly. ‘He kept stealing all the ladies’ hats.’

‘And wearing them,’ Maia said. ‘The worst of it was he looked better in mine than me.’

‘Baloney. You look lovely.’

‘You’re too sweet, Sylvie.’

‘You know what to do with monkeys who steal?’ Carberry said.

‘What?’