‘Mademoiselle, you cannot presume I wish to confound you in the darkness, like the prey of some wild beast?’ said he with a playful look. ‘Why, you are as nervous as a doe.’

‘I am nothing of the sort, monseigneur.’ I straightened myself, not a little piqued at his remark.

We strolled for a few moments in silence, taking in the redolent scent of warm damp earth and wet green.

‘I was here when a child and still recall La Volière’s charms with fondness. It belonged to the Comtes d’Aubry for many generations.’

‘And what of the current Count?’

Orléans regarded me quizzically, as if he found my ignorance faintly amusing.

‘Monsieur d’Aubry and his family have emigrated. He has forfeited his estate to the nation, mademoiselle.’ There was a hint of sadness in his voice. ‘As I understand it, he is at Coblenz. When I heard word that La Volière had been confiscated, I engaged it for ma chère Fanny in her confinement, so she might be near to me.’ As he turned towards me, the lantern shone against half his face, so that his round countenance appeared particularly moon-like. ‘The army will not have me on the battlefield, so I am fixed at Valenciennes, which is less than an hour’s ride from here. It is a most idyllic spot, is it not?’

‘Yes. Yes, most certainly, monseigneur,’ I answered with eagerness.

‘Ah, but you must see my house at Le Raincy or Monceau with its pleasure garden of follies. You will never observe anything of its kind in Paris, non, or even in the whole of France, mademoiselle. Have you never ridden upon a jeu de bague?’ he enquired with a raised eyebrow.

‘I cannot say I have, monseigneur.’

‘It is what the English call a carousel, but mine is made of Chinese dragons. I have a minaret and a pyramid, temples and tents and a windmill.’ He boasted like a boy. ‘But I must concede, even at Monceau I possess nothing so singular and transporting as this,’ said he, directing his sights to the path ahead of us.

We approached the silhouette of what I guessed to be some sort of Chinese or Indian pavilion. Its three triangular turrets rose starkly against the star-speckled background of sky. As we neared it, I could discern that it comprised two levels. A row of circular windows decorated its first floor, while below, a series of rectangular apertures were covered entirely by latticework. The Duke turned to me and smiled as he leaned upon the door. Once again, I hesitated before entering. It was only when Orléans held forth the lantern that I saw plainly where we stood.