‘Why, yes, sir. That is very kind, and my cousin also, of course.’

‘Of course.’ Mr Newbold bowed to Miss Felbridge, and inwardly regretted her presence. ‘With Lady Elstead’s permission, of course.’

Her ladyship, hearing her name, turned from Lady Soughton, and nodded graciously. After all, the girls acted as chaperonage for each other in so public a spot, and Mr Newbold was a definite feather in Henrietta’s cap.

Mr Newbold handed both young ladies down from the barouche, offered an arm to each, and moved away before Mr Soughton had the wits to suggest he accompany them.

‘I do hope you will both hang upon my every word about balloons,’ purred Mr Newbold, and watched the two young faces dissolve first into disbelief, then amusement as he added, ‘They are filled with more hot air, or more accurately, gas, than Mr Gerald Soughton; they go up, and then they come down. There is no more to be said.’

‘Sir, you are a terrible tease.’ Miss Felbridge shook her head.

‘But we owe you a huge debt.’ Henrietta was not speaking in jest. ‘If Mr Soughton had carried on much longer I would have been wishing for a balloon to float me away.’ She shuddered. ‘The spectacle is one which I would like to say that I have seen in my life, but to have such a flow of pointless information thrust upon one is beyond all. We are so fortunate that you came upon us.’

‘“Fortune” had little to do with it, Miss Gaydon, since I was looking most particularly for … Lady Elstead’s barouche.’ His eyes twinkled for a moment, and Henrietta felt her colour rise. Caroline did not notice, since at this juncture they were hailed by Lord Martley, and she so forgot herself as to wave her little gloved hand in his direction. If Lady Elstead chose not to see that her daughter and the viscount were besotted with each other, Mr Newbold wore no such blinkers, and saw, most reprehensibly, that it could work to his advantage. Without Lord Martley, or the ladies, quite understanding how it happened, the four became two couples, sufficiently apart for private conversation, which was preferable to both gentlemen, and certainly one of the ladies.

‘Have you recovered a little yet, Miss Gaydon?’ enquired Mr Newbold solicitously.

‘That makes me sound as if I have suffered from an indisposition, sir.’