‘Yes, thank you, but not with Mr Ralph Harrt, whom I partnered earlier. I believe he dances as he would chase a fox before his hounds. He is not agile on his feet as you are, Mr Mortreath.’

‘How kind of you to say so, Miss Ameline.’ The remark gave James encouragement. ‘May I have the honour of claiming another dance with you before too long this evening?’

‘Indeed you may. I have promised one dance to my brother, Martin, one to my father and one to Mr John Sarrison, although he may soon be danced off his feet in the same way as Mr Alfred. Grandfather has vowed to dance twice with every lady in the room but he looks as if his age and rheumatism will soon have the upper hand of him. Oh, and one dance with Oliver, Sir Oliver that is, but I will save the remainder for you, Mr Mortreath. Have you been introduced to Sir Oliver yet?’

‘Yes, yes… a… a most charming man,’ James blustered.

‘And Lady Pengarron?’

‘Yes, I spoke to her briefly. She seems most charming too.’

‘I’m pleased you’ve accepted her. Some people are beastly about her background, working class, you know, and it does anger me. I believe one should take people as one finds them and she has always been very sweet to me.’

James was relieved he had not made another error about the beautiful Lady Pengarron. He had spoken the truth about finding her charming and would have liked to have asked her to dance, but fear of Sir Oliver’s reaction had stopped him.

Ameline was smiling at him and James felt another surge of confidence. If she had a regard for him and wished to accept his offer of marriage, then even if Sir Oliver was against him it wouldn’t matter.

Ameline’s smile died when she became aware that Captain Hezekiah Solomon was looking straight across the hall at her. Her hand flew to clutch James’s arm. He misread her action and plunged into part of the speech he had prepared for her father.

‘Miss Ameline, I have the intention of asking…’

She was not listening to him. Hezekiah Solomon was rapidly making his way over to them.

‘What… what was that you were saying, Mr Mortreath?’ she said shakily, moving abruptly so her back was towards Hezekiah and giving James her full attention.

‘I was saying that I intend to speak to your father—’

James was rudely interrupted. ‘I am hoping that I may have the pleasure of the next dance with you, Miss Ameline,’ Hezekiah said forcefully over her shoulder.

Hardly turning round, Ameline said coolly, ‘I’m afraid I have promised the next dance to Mr Mortreath. In fact I have none available for the rest of the evening, Captain Solomon.’