‘It is a … divine-looking hat, Miss Yate. Shows off your face charmingly. Now, if you will be so good as to take my arm, I shall escort you into the church and give you away to a gentleman who will cherish you as no other.’

‘Oh, my lord.’

It was at this moment, as Miss Yate smiled tremulously up at Lord Henfield, and laid her hand upon his arm as instructed, that Mr Newbold, passing along Maddox Street, happened to look down St George’s Street, and saw them. For a moment he did not recognise Miss Yate, Miss Yate in a very elegant hat, and looking inexpressibly happy, but then she half-tripped going up the steps, and he knew it was her. He frowned, for it made no sense, but it might also be very useful to know. He did not stop, but continued on his way.

It was not, of course, a grand wedding. The bride, beautiful hat notwithstanding, wore a serviceable pelisse and the hem of her gown was a little dusty. The groom had the advantage of regimentals, and Lord Henfield was reminded of a pair of pheasant, where the cock bird had all the show, and the hen retained practical drabness. The maid sniffed rather a lot, but did provide the second witness without them having recourse to asking someone off the street, and Lord Henfield was relieved to find that, however laboriously, she could write her own name. Captain Hathersage had decided that the best course was to leave the capital and make for Cambridgeshire at the earliest opportunity, since the road to Cambridge possessed some good inns, and they could halt upon their journey and arrive at their new home next day. However, his new wife had not been able to break her fast before leaving her home, and partaking of an early luncheon would prevent her fainting from hunger somewhere before Bishop’s Stortford. Lord Henfield decided it was better not to ask if the captain had thought to warn the staff that he and his new wife were about to descend upon them, rightly assuming that holland covers and drawn blinds would not be in the thoughts of either party. He would happily have left them to eat à deux, but they were both insistent that he join them in their celebratory repast.