Even though she was rich with the wealth left to her by her last husband, the money that was expended at St. James’s Square must exceed all she had received from Mr. Fitzherbert’s will.

But it was difficult to feel worried about anything as she dressed that evening in what seemed to her the most wonderful gown she had ever seen.

It was of white satin embroidered with tiny pearls and looped with bows of velvet ribbon sparkling with diamanté. Hoops had been discarded for less formal occasions, but Gretna learnt that they were still worn at Court and at Carlton House.

But, as if to offset the grandeur of her gown, there were two pink roses caught at her breast that seemed to reflect the colour in her cheeks and the rosy tint of her lips.

Maria had debated for a long time whether her hair should be powdered or not and to her surprise Gretna had insisted,

“It is not that I don’t admire you for being brave enough to defy the fashion, dearest Maria, and wear your hair au naturel,” she said. “It is just that, for my first evening at Carlton House at any rate, I would like to be powdered.”

“I am not certain that it would not be cleverer to leave you as you are,” Maria had sighed, but she had given in as Gretna was so insistent.

She was not to know that Gretna was frightened that the Marquis might be present and would recognise her. She could not guess that Gretna thought that powdered hair would make her disguise even more impenetrable in case, by any unfortunate chance, they should come face to face.

And, when finally she was ready, Maria admitted that she had been mistaken.

“You look exquisite,” she exclaimed. “The powder shows off the clear loveliness of your skin and it makes your eyes even bluer than they were before. You were right, my love, and I was wrong. Nothing could be more charming and nothing could be younger or more alluring.”

There was no doubt that the company assembled at Carlton House thought the same.

From the moment Gretna had entered the imposing Corinthian portico, passed through the marble hall and up the great staircase with its glittering gold balustrade, and had come to the magnificent State apartments, she had been stared at and whispered about and quite unmistakably admired.

She had expected to find the Prince’s own surroundings impressive, but she had not been prepared for the sheer splendour of them, for the huge glittering chandeliers with thousands of lit tapers and for the rose satin hangings, the pictures, the rugs, the tapestries and everything in such perfect and undeniable good taste.