Oliver and Tom lounged on either side of the fire, utterly unlike in spite of the uniform of their dinner jackets. Tom was very dark and sleek and correct, while Oliver’s black tie was askew and his blond hair remained uncombed. He was on his third whisky and his face was slightly reddened, but it was obvious that he was in a good humour. He kissed Pansy, and his hand slid down her velvet back. One of the middle-aged men cleared his throat very faintly.

At dinner Helen counted fewer people at table than servants to wait on them. Oliver kept signalling to Maitland to fill his glass. His father frowned at him and he stared challengingly back.

Without Pansy’s sparkle, the conversation would have been hard work. Lord and Lady Montcalm were not animated talkers.

At the end of the meal, Lady Montcalm looked from Pansy to Helen and raised her eyebrows. Obediently they stood up and followed her. Before the door closed, Helen heard Lord Montcalm say, ‘Care for a rubber, George? Which of you boys will make up a four?’

Oliver said sharply, ‘I hate bridge. And Tom, like a sensible man, doesn’t play. We’re going to the billiard room.’

The door clicked shut and the women made their way back to the drawing room.

Lady Montcalm drank her coffee with an air of weariness and then stood up with a little sigh.

‘Will you forgive me if I desert you both? It’s our biggest day of the year tomorrow, with the Meet and the Ball in the evening. It means a very great deal of work, so I must allow myself the luxury of an early night.’

‘Of course,’ they murmured.

As soon as they were alone, they grinned at each other in relief. Pansy threw herself back against the cushions and waved her arms.

‘Phooeee, talk about stiff. No wonder Nolly hates it, poor love. It was like having dinner in a fishtank, wasn’t it? All those people standing against the wall with their hands folded, waiting for you to put down your fork.’

Helen laughed.

‘D’you think they eat like that when there’s just the two of them?’

‘But of course. One has to keep going somehow, doing what’s expected of one.’ She had caught Lady Montcalm’s vowels to perfection.

Oliver put his head round the door.

‘All clear?’ he said. ‘Right. Off duty time.’ He was carrying an empty glass and he picked up a brandy bottle from the drinks tray and swung it by the neck.