‘Ah, yes, I do see what you mean, now.’ He paused. ‘I shall not enquire further, for it would be unfair, and you would not wish to spread a private sorrow, but I believe I may not be totally unaware of a potential cause, and if that be so, Miss Felbridge has my sympathies. It makes it an even less propitious time for me to … so we will attempt, Miss Gaydon, to pretend that the only sorrow before us tonight is the tragedy played out for us upon the stage. Do you like this opera?’

Henrietta, who had been holding her breath in anticipation of an aspiration she dreaded, let out a sigh.

‘I do, and the story of Orpheus and Eurydice is one with which I am familiar, so it is easy to follow.’

‘I think, Miss Gaydon, that you ought to be prepared, for in this version of the story, the tragic is replaced by Love, and, although your cousin may not be in the mood for it, Love triumphs.’

‘Oh, well, I am glad I am warned, Mr Newbold, for I shall feel almost cheated if I do not leave the theatre with a damp handkerchief.’

She sounded so genuinely aggrieved that he laughed, and received a reproachful look from Miss Felbridge. He would bide his time with Miss Gaydon, and await another day. He asked Lady Elstead if they would be attending the opening of the Waterloo Bridge three days hence, and received, as he had hoped, not only an affirmative, but an invitation to accompany them. Lady Elstead was not going to let Mr Newbold slip through her matchmaking fingers if she could possibly help it. He feigned surprised delight, and arranged to join them in South Audley Street at one o’clock for a light luncheon before setting out.

Charles Henfield was not absorbed in Miss Yate, and for his part, he regarded Robert Newbold’s swift assumption of ‘suitor in chief’ with a jealousy which actually matched that of Henrietta. The man, unscrupulous swine, had seen that Henrietta was unhappy, and had used that as a means to worm himself into her affections. Having correctly recognised that unhappiness, it would have been a logical step for Charles to assume that she regretted her dismissal of his own person, which in turn indicated that her feelings for him were strong. He instead told himself that she was unhappy because she regretted that Martley had not been able to make his ‘rescue’, appear as a hero to Lady Elstead as well as Miss Felbridge, and be welcomed into the Elstead fold.