Lady Vernham was not much interested in a succession of damsels singing and playing upon the pianoforte or the harp, though she acknowledged that when she brought out her daughter it would be a useful evening. She therefore clapped politely when everyone else did so, and spent her time watching Lord Henfield. She could not quite get rid of the idea that he had become a form of protégé, and she wanted his success. She was not seeing it tonight, and feared that having made several steps forward he had just taken one back. Newbold was not the sort of man to be malicious, but if he had serious intentions about the chit, he would not stand back and invite a rival to take his place. He was experienced in society, and that polish counted, especially when Lord Henfield was not ill at ease, but not in his favoured environment. When he returned to her, Lord Henfield’s expression was sober.

‘So?’ More seemed superfluous.

‘So Newbold raised the idea that Henrietta and I are as good as brother and sister.’

‘Clever,’ acknowledged Lady Vernham.

‘I am not very interested in whether or not he is clever, ma’am,’ responded Lord Henfield, understandably chagrined.

‘No, I can see that perfectly well. What did you do?’ Lady Vernham looked searchingly at him.

‘Repudiated it, of course, but it made Henrietta look … confused, and then angry.’

‘Oh, good.’

‘What?’

‘Try and show a little sense. If she was not inclined to favour you she would not be confused at all. It shows that she is indeed not thinking of you in a fraternal light. You ought to be pleased.’

‘Yes, but we were getting on famously only yesterday and now …’

‘Now she has had to take a breath, and wonder. Let her wonder. Newbold looks as if he wishes to try and fix his interest with her, which may prove a little awkward, for he has considerable address, but if she is so far down the path to regarding you as her heart’s choice of partner, then he may well have started too late.’

‘But I am not convinced she is “down the path”, ma’am.’

‘That is because you are in love with the girl. It clouds your judgement, naturally, and you are the sort of man who takes the pessimistic view rather than the over-optimistic in these cases.’

‘I think it realistic.’

‘Yes, you would.’ Lady Vernham laid her hand upon his arm. ‘You have to remember that she is but seventeen, eighteen? She is dealing with her first Season, the first time she has been treated as a grown woman by men, and I say that to you, because I doubt you treated her as “a woman”, but as “Henrietta”, for that is her name, yes? It is sometimes bewildering, like stepping into light from darkness.’ She laughed. ‘That sounds histrionic, and I never approved of histrionics.’

‘I cannot match Newbold.’