‘Undoubtedly,’ agreed Lord Henfield, watching Henrietta pointing out some detail of workmanship to her cousin. She made no pretence of being but casually interested, and her face was alight with awe and excitement. The thought occurred to him that her beauty shone more brilliantly than the carefully faceted rubies, diamonds and amethysts, and he laughed at himself for being so poetic.

When they had finally finished identifying the pieces from their descriptions, they thanked the warder, and emerged into the daylight, blinking for a moment. They then made their way to the Lion Tower, which Lady Elstead entered without any enthusiasm, and once they reached the chambers with the cages, recoiled at the ‘animal odours’. It had not discouraged a steady trickle of the curious public.

The beasts were contained in small cages, able to lie down or stand, and a rail kept the visitors from trying to touch them.

‘You know, they keep the beasts behind bars just as they do the royal regalia,’ murmured Caroline.

‘I doubt the sceptre would bite you, though, Miss Felbridge,’ Lord Martley responded, in high good humour. After all, the day was going remarkably well, and Miss Felbridge had smiled at him on several occasions.

‘Where is your parasol, Caroline?’ interjected Lady Elstead, holding her handkerchief to her nose, and Caroline felt that it was some form of reproof.

‘My parasol! Oh dear,’ cried Caroline, in some distress, ‘I must have left it in the Jewel House.’

‘Never fear, Miss Felbridge,’ announced Lord Martley gallantly, ‘I will restore it to you within a few minutes. I am sure it will have been handed to the guardian at the door.’ He made her a flourishing bow, and almost skipped off to return to the incarcerated regalia. The party remained by the barred cages, Caroline facing away from them and watching Lord Martley as he rushed from the room. She leaned slightly against the rail. What happened next occurred so swiftly that none could have foreseen it. Within the cage was a large monkey. Seeing the spray of bright ‘cherries’ upon Caroline’s hat, it reached through the bars with astonishing alacrity, and took a firm hold of the straw hat’s wide brim, tugging it towards its eager mouth as it thrust as much of its head as it could through the bars. Caroline, caught off balance, broke the rail and fell back against the cages, where a monkey in a lower cage grabbed at her skirts, jabbering.

Caroline screamed, and Lady Elstead cried out.

Lord Henfield instinctively moved forward.

‘No, no, Charles,’ whispered Henrietta firmly, laying her hand upon his arm and holding him back. ‘Do nothing.’

‘What? Henry, for goodness’ sake …’

‘Lord Martley must “rescue” her, do you not see?’ she insisted in an under-voice.

‘No, I do not.’ He wrenched his arm away. ‘Your cousin stands at risk, for those animals would have a nasty bite, and it matters not who keeps her from harm.’