The Earl and Countess of Witton were a pleasant if not greatly distinguished pair, he an elderly man with a slightly harried look and an expansive moustache, she a comfortably-built woman in her late fifties. Jimmy was with them, looking as if he’d been squeezed into his evening dress, and on his arm was the loveliest girl Pat had ever seen.

Miss Fenella Carruth was irresistible. She had brown hair that the candlelight picked out in glints of copper, bronze, and gold, and big sparkling pansy-brown eyes in a heart-shaped face made for laughter. She wore a gown that even Pat could tell was desperately fashionable and which had obviously been tailored to display a delightfully plump figure to its best advantage without squeezing her into a wasp waist, a task to which no whalebone could have been equal. The gown, of a soft pink, was adorned with a profusion of bows and lace that would have looked absurd on Pat and suited Miss Carruth to perfection. She had plenty of bosom on display, and plenty of jewellery on it, a three-stringed necklace of rose-coloured stones that glittered over her fair skin. Her hair was beautifully dressed in artful ringlets, her rounded arms were adorned by bracelets; she looked like the kind of woman that angular, plain Pat could never have been, and had never particularly wanted to be. She’d never aspired to turn heads; she truly didn’t think she was jealous of those who did.

But oh, she ached at the sight of Fenella Carruth, lovely in the candlelight.

Pat evidently wasn’t the only one struck. Mr. Keynes’ ears had gone red and his gaze was fixed on Miss Carruth’s bosom. Bill’s face was set. Mr. Haworth was smiling, not entirely pleasantly, and so was Mr. Bouvier-Lynes with open admiration, and Pat saw Lady Anna’s nostrils flare slightly as she looked from one to the other.

Miss Carruth didn’t seem to notice being the cynosure of all eyes, or perhaps she was used to it. She dimpled as the various introductions were made, and hung on Jimmy’s arm looking delightfully happy to be there. That was marvellous because Jimmy deserved a laughing young lady with sparkling brown eyes and glorious curves. Pat was thrilled for them both.

She said as much when she was introduced to Miss Carruth, who gave a little trill of excitement. “Mr. Merton’s sister? How wonderful! Jimmy’s talked so much about you both, I feel as though I know you already. Jimmy went to university with your brother, didn’t he? And he tells me that you’re a champion shot!” She looked around to Jimmy for confirmation, and seemed slightly startled to realised he’d slipped away to speak to Bill.

“That’s right. I won a competition.”

“And you’ll really be shooting with the men on Monday?” Miss Carruth’s eyes rounded dramatically.