‘Yes, but I am still very afraid that my mama will be set against our marriage.’

‘But it is Lord Elstead’s decision.’

‘And he will heed Mama. Imagine if it were the other way about, my lord.’

He did, and knew the truth.

‘But there is nothing, nothing I tell you, that renders me ineligible for your dear hand. Whatever antipathy exists between our mamas can only be between them, and will not cloud good sense. I have no wish to boast, but I am of good character, have excellent prospects and, in the final analysis, you will equal Lady Elstead in rank from the moment my ring is upon your finger, and in the fullness of time will be a countess. She cannot sniff at that.’

‘I agree, in theory, but, oh, I am so afraid that we will be parted, forever.’ She wrung her hands together, and looked so frightened that Lord Martley had to control the urge to take those hands in a very firm hold. He urged her to be positive, but this was to no avail, and she even urged him to leave her, lest her mama should see them together.

‘But, my dear Miss Felbridge, we have been “seen together” at functions these three months past, and all you have to do is appear as though I were but another gentleman soliciting you for a dance.’

‘I cannot dance. My knees are knocking.’

Lord Martley strove very hard to dismiss the thought of Miss Felbridge’s knees, knocking or otherwise, from his mind, and was not totally successful. He was actually relieved when Lord Chilwell joined the conversation, and he could withdraw with what he hoped was the appearance of a man who had merely engaged in a few minutes’ casual conversation with a young lady.

Thus it was that Caroline loitered upon the first-floor landing as eleven o’clock approached next morning, gazing frequently over the banister rail and alternating between telling Henrietta something unnamed but awful would prevent Lord Martley arriving, and dreading the sight of his elegant form entering the vestibule. The most unfortunate consequence of this was that Lady Elstead, emerging from the small parlour, found niece and daughter almost hanging over the aforementioned rail, and demanded to know what on earth they were doing. Henrietta, as she told Caroline afterwards, would have lied. Caroline could not lie to her parent, and therefore revealed that they were in expectation of Lord Martley arriving to request an interview with ‘Papa’. Lady Elstead went white, and her eyes nearly started from their sockets. She almost ran down the stairs, and the girls heard the book room door shut with such vehemence that it might have been termed a slam.