‘Of course I do,’ Rachael purred. ‘And you look your usual picture of glowing beauty too, Kerensa, my dear. One can easily see that you’ve had the most divine time alone with your husband, but then who wouldn’t with the most gorgeous man in the county.’ Rachael pursed her painted lips and risked the position of her wig by putting her head a little on the side. ‘I suppose you had the most terrible time wrenching yourself out of his arms.’

‘Of course I did, Rachael,’ Kerensa smiled.

Rachael laughed with a loud snort then swung round to survey herself in a full-length mirror. ‘Do you think I have enough jewels on, my dear? I simply must look my best for tonight. Old Marty won’t be seventy years old on every day of the week, and who knows, he might not be around much longer. Did you know the dear old thing wanted to hold the party in his tiny little house in Marazion? The very idea. There’s not enough room to comfortably hold twenty guests in there. I’ve got six children old enough to attend the celebration, so with them and William and myself, and you and Oliver that makes ten people for a start so I got William to insist…’

Kerensa couldn’t get a word in edgeways, or near the mirror to check on her own appearance, so she sat on the only chair not draped with discarded clothing and listened patiently.

‘I hope I’ve ordered enough food and wine to cope with the evening,’ Rachael continued, pressing another black patch on her chin in an attempt to conceal a wavy-lined wrinkle. ‘I don’t want to let old Marty down and I want the county to talk about the event for years. Talking of children, I was just now, wasn’t I? I’m waiting for Ameline to come to me, she has no dress sense at all, you know. My other older girls know exactly how to dress but I have to check on Ameline on every occasion, it’s so tiresome of her. I keep telling her, you only have to emulate your dear mama and all will be well.’

Kerensa smiled behind her fan and managed to get in a few words on a pause of Rachael’s breath. ‘That was strange weather we had earlier today.’

‘Was it, my dear? I was too preoccupied with the preparations for tonight to notice.’

Kerensa didn’t have any more time to remark on the weather. There was a timid knock on the door and Ameline Beswetherick appeared. Ameline took one look at her mother and came into the bedchamber quite fearfully.

Downstairs Oliver was joined by Sir Martin who handed him a glass of the finest white wine. He’d had a look of disappointment on his chubby face as he’d watched Kerensa disappear up the stairs.