‘Vivienne!’ Lord Edgerton erupted at the other end of the table. ‘Whatever is titillating you, might you keep it to yourself? You’re invited to this breakfast because your mother asked that I involve you. But if you might keep your conversation to a min-imum, I should greatly appreciate it. We are men of the world and we have much to discuss.’ Billy saw Vivienne flush crimson, but somehow she managed to keep her humiliation hidden. I’ve seen this before, thought Billy, she bottles it up and bottles it up . . . and the only way to get rid of it is when she’s in the ballroom with too many cocktails in her hand, or with the powders Mr Simenon sends me to collect for her.

At the table, Lord Edgerton gazed imperiously around. ‘My stepdaughter,’ he explained to his fellows. ‘I’m afraid she still has the American temperament of her departed father. But you’re an English girl now, aren’t you, Vivienne? So she’s learning English decorum.’ He shook his head, resignedly. ‘Shall we move on to the matter at hand, gentlemen? The union must be allowed to march freely and unhindered. We’ll need to petition Parliament. The demonstration is legal and it must be protected from that East End filth . . .’

The lord went on, but Billy’s eyes were drawn inexorably back to Vivienne.

‘Nathaniel,’ she was saying, ‘don’t pay him any attention. If he speaks to me like that again, then he’ll know what a scene I can cause. My mother’s in his thrall, but she won’t be for ever. She’s in love now, but once that wears off . . .’

Her voice had been wavering but, as she spoke, she fought her way back to her usual fieriness.

‘I can think of worse places to live than an establishment like this, Miss Edgerton.’ The young man named Nathaniel paused. He’s probably only a few years older than I am, thought Billy, but when you’re born with titles and money, you hold yourself different. You’re born a gentleman. You’re born entitled. ‘I’m not like my father,’ the young man went on, indicating the most corpulent of Lord Edgerton’s guests, a man of ruddy complexion and with a big, porcine snout. ‘They wanted me to get a job in the City, like the rest of them. Or in industry. But what’s wrong with wanting to live a little first? As a matter of fact, I only came at all today because I’d heard such magical things about your ballroom. And here I am, and I haven’t even seen it!’

‘Tell me,’ Vivienne said, ‘what would you have been doing?’

‘Oh, some minor adventuring, I should think.’ Nathaniel, whose lips barely seemed to part as he spoke, paused. ‘Do you think a lady in your position might be able to unlock those ballroom doors, allow a stranger a glimpse of it?’