‘Ahh, it’s all about breeding,’ Lady Chiltington enthused, settling herself into the chair next to Jelly’s with back straight and hands clasped. ‘You must realise how important that is. Now, you and your wonderful sister are descended from a Hungarian count, are you not? This is clear to me, in the grace and graciousness about you.’

Surprised, Jelly waited for her to continue.

‘Please have a look in my bureau, dear.’ Ebba pointed to an inlaid wooden desk and cabinet in the corner. ‘You will find an interesting pamphlet, something I think Julia would like to show everyone.’

There Jelly discovered, in the centre drawer, a printed booklet. Journal of the British Eugenics Society.

‘I’ve spoken for them several times.’ The baroness patted sweat from her own forehead with a handkerchief. ‘Julia, though, is the real expert… ’

‘Do you know about eugenics, Miss d’Arányi?’ said Lady Chiltington. ‘The ideas are perfectly feasible, you see, and so important. Ebba’s campaign is that Sweden should become more active in promoting this area of research. Sweden has the most wonderful man, a Dr Herman Lundborg. He is a race biologist and he has devoted most of his career to the subject. He became head of a Swedish institute for the study of this field and I am eager that Ebba should encourage her country to build further on his work. They are excellently placed for it.’

‘But… why race biology? I mean, we’re all the same, we’re all human beings… ’ Jelly interrupted – and as she spoke she sensed the chatter quieten as the eyes of four strange women, plus the baroness, her daughter Margareta and Adila all turned towards her.

‘Oh, Miss d’Arányi, you are a true innocent.’ With one hand, adorned with glitter-laden rings, Lady Chiltington took the pamphlet from Jelly, who seemed to have lost her strength. ‘Yes, naturally, we are all people. This is the whole point. You see, future generations can all be better people than we are, provided that breeding is controlled.’

‘Like pedigree dogs, then?’

‘Quite possibly.’ Lady Chiltington did not flinch. ‘Scientists agree, today, that all manner of things are determined by heredity. It’s vital to the human race’s welfare that we learn more about it. For instance, some diseases are inherited, yet need not be. There are qualities of the human soul, too, which are inherited, yet need not be. Imagine, first, a world free of terrible illnesses. I, for example, have survived an operation for – a certain condition.’ A look from Ebba told Jelly that Lady Chiltington meant unmentionable cancer. ‘How can we be certain that this disease does not pass through the bloodline? How can we be certain that my condition is not to be inherited? How can I be sure that my daughter will not suffer, at my age, as I have? And my grandchildren too?’