‘Do what? I’m not doing anything. That’s the trouble. But there will come a time when I must find a husband if I am not to be an old maid. Unless you can make something of yourself, Tom will not consent to your marrying me. It’s up to you, Arthur, but I don’t think I can wait for ever.’

Arthur spared the naval officer a quick glance. He would be rejoining them in a moment, and Arthur spoke quickly. ‘Say you won’t marry him, Kitty. Promise me.’

‘I shall do no such thing. Besides, I like him.’

‘But you love me.’

‘For now.’ Kitty smiled sweetly and turned towards the looming hulk of Fenshaw as he eased past a small group of young ladies, who glanced at him sidelong and then whispered amongst themselves.

‘Here you are, Kitty!’ Fenshaw handed her a glass of punch, then gave one to Arthur and raised the last glass. ‘A toast. To the meeting of old friends.’

‘Old friends,’ Arthur and Kitty chorused. Arthur sensed that the other man was watching him closely, as if he were trying to discern the true nature of the friendship between them.

The orchestra struck up the first dance of the night and at once Captain Fenshaw turned to Kitty. ‘My dance, I believe. Here, Wesley, take the drinks.’

Arthur reached out and awkwardly clutched the three glasses as the others moved out into the centre of the ballroom and took up their positions with the other couples. Glancing round,Arthur caught the eye of a servant and nodded to the glasses. Once he had been relieved of them he turned round to see Kitty and Fenshaw join in the first movements of a reel, smiling at each other as they linked arms and swirled round. Arthur felt sick. And angry. That Kitty should be so mercenary . . .Then again, what right had he to insist on her affection when he had no hope of marrying her for some years yet, the way his life was heading? For now, it all depended on Lord Camden. If only he could find a profitable position for Arthur, then there was hope.

For the rest of the evening, Kitty danced with each of them in turn. In between dances she was unscrupulously flirtatious with both men. Try as he might, Arthur found it hard to dislike Fenshaw, who seemed to be as professional as himself, and in the few snatches of more serious conversation that Kitty permitted them it was clear that he was a thoughtful man with considerable charm, much intelligence and a ready wit. In short, the sort of man who would make an admirable brother-in-law for Tom Pakenham. At the end of the evening, after the orchestra had finished playing and the guests made to leave in order of their social standing, Kitty turned to them.