‘I have a pearl necklet, and drop earrings, and a diamond pendant and hair ornament, and a few brooches.’

‘There. You have at least just what you need in that department. Now, where has Caroline got to, I wonder? Much of her wardrobe is complete, but I saw the most fetching hat yesterday, and we might as well visit milliners together, yes?’

Henrietta merely nodded. Lady Elstead rang to send a servant to ascertain if her daughter was awake, and shortly afterwards that damsel appeared, was introduced, and sent to prepare for an assault upon the emporia of the capital. This clearly appealed. By the time the trio returned for a late luncheon, Henrietta’s mind was a whirl not just of chip straw and ruched linings, but, courtesy of several modistes, of sarsenet, spider gauze, vandyke and scalloped edgings, twills, satins and figured muslins.

Before dinner. Henrietta sat down to write to her papa, to reassure him of her safe arrival, and to warn him that she was undoubtedly making him poor.

… I am not sure that I have any say in the matter, my dear Papa, for I have no notion how many gowns one ought to have, nor of what stuffs. I shall not bore you with describing such things, for I know that it would tell you nothing, since you would have no image of what I meant, unless I were to send you the latest edition of La Belle Assemblée. I confess my own understanding is rather jumbled at present, but I will be learning very fast, about as fast as the guineas disappear from your account! My aunt has also declared my hair to be dressed so badly that she had to have her maid attend to it before I went out in public, even wearing a hat. I have returned this afternoon already the proud possessor of no less than four hats, an opera cloak, a merino spencer, a pair of long kid evening gloves, three pairs of gloves for day wear, a spangled shawl and half a dozen pairs of silk stockings. The dressmakers are attending to the gowns, which must be adjusted to make them fit perfectly. If you were to see me next week, dear Papa, you might not recognise your own daughter.

I cannot say as yet that I like London, for I have not attended any parties, or visited any important sights, but I have been continually busy. I slept most soundly the first night through tiredness, but it is noisy here until very late, and I am unused to voices outside, and the constant sound of hooves upon the cobbles.