In the evenings, if the de Bourgh ladies were fortunate, of a Tuesday they would be invited to attend a private concert at one of the fashionable residences about Mayfair, occasionally thence proceeding to an assembly at another establishment of the ton, and, if very lucky, would have received a third invitation to a soirée dansante; the opportunity to appear on the following day with dark eyes, drooping eye-lids, and a general listlessness was not one easily denied. On Wednesdays, the scene varied from the infrequent drawing-room—or, for two weeks one year, the public rooms at Almack’s—or some other less exclusive, private entertainment. Thursdays the de Bourghs attended the opera, theatre, or another assemblée privé. Fridays evenings were usually reserved for the Hotel Pultney, where, it was hoped, there were many unmarried men, and a great proportion of younger ones who were not too fine to dance.

In January and February, there was little to do in London, and, hence, few diversions offered in the way of private entertainments. Even those few willing to suspend their own pleasures out of deference of duty to the nation were just now returning to town. The papers had short lists of arrivals and a corresponding want of news, the most pressing items being that “the waggon carrying the goods of Lord M—— was overturned twice in going from his Surrey house down to London,” or that “Lady S—— had taken an unfortunate tumble upon exiting her carriage and sprained her ancle.” Even those paragons bound thither felt the need to explain their presence in so unfashionable a season: “Oh dear, no; I never go to town in March; and at that early season, Almack’s is not even named. But, this year I am much interested about a bill, which I hope will pass the House this session; and therefore, for a wonder, I will be in town ‘til June.” Only those punctilious about attending the House were in town, and of that illustrious portion, an even smaller share were so mutually attached to their wives that both would arrive to share the captivity of the sooty fogs and dark windows of London in winter.