For one moment Henrietta’s mind went blank, and then the full import of what had been said hit her. She had, in some strange way, thought of this visit as an adventure, a rite of passage even, but here was the nub of the matter. Her aunt saw it as society would see it, as the way to arrange her future, to find her a husband. A small but insistent voice within her cried out that she wanted to go back to Shropshire, carry on just being Papa’s daughter.

‘Does it shock you, my dear? It is, alas, the great problem when one has not a mama to guide one. One has to be pragmatic. When a young lady makes her curtsey to society, it is also her chief opportunity to secure her future, and a future means being married, having an establishment of one’s own. In the next few months you will meet many gentlemen, and it is almost certain that one amongst them will find you just to his taste, and he to yours. The days when marriages were arranged without either party having any knowledge of the other are thankfully consigned to the past, in most cases. Neither I nor your papa would expect you to marry a man you could not respect, nor hold in less than a firm regard. You are a beautiful girl, and if your manners and character are equally appealing, you will do very well, very well indeed, and we may expect an excellent match.’ Lady Elstead regarded the round gown with disfavour. ‘Of course, in order to show you at your best, it will be necessary to get you to a decent dressmaker before anyone sees just how … but it is not your fault, my dear, not at all, and your hair, well, my maid can arrange it before we go out shopping. You are no longer a child in the schoolroom. We will have you quite presentable before you have to go abroad in public.’

Henrietta felt rather flattened by all this. She had realised that her wardrobe was not up to London standards, but this sounded as if she was dressed so abysmally that being seen with her would be an embarrassment.

‘I … I will be guided by you, ma’am, of course. I have brought my jewel casket with me, with such pieces as Mama left to me. I am not sure if there is a “fashion” for jewellery, but I can assure you that the quality is good.’ She looked so downcast that Lady Elstead took pity upon her.

‘If you inherited them from your mama, I know they will be beautiful. The art, with a girl in her first Season, is not to overdress with trumpery pieces, or large and gaudy stones. “Pearls are perfect, diamonds desirable”, that is what I hold to, and so should you.’