‘I know to a day how old you are, my boy, since I am your godfather, and ask yourself this. If you did not act like her older brother, would she still see you in that light?’ Sir John was brisk. ‘I cannot give you an answer, but I am prepared to say that she may well not do so. She is dashed fond of you, I know that. When she disobeyed you, at sixteen, and went into the stall of that brute of a bay hunter you had, after you had told her it was dangerous, you said you never wanted to speak to her again.’

‘I was mad as fire, sir, you know that. I was perfectly right, the beast was dangerous, broke a stable lad’s leg the next week.’

‘Yes, but what you don’t know is that it was not the trimming that I gave her that kept her in her room for two days thereafter. She was desolate. She wrote you a letter.’

‘I still have it,’ admitted Charles, in an embarrassed mumble. ‘She said that even if I never spoke to her again she hoped I would at least read her apology, because she could not face the thought that I would think so badly of her.’

‘As I said, she is dashed fond of you. But if you leave her among all the sprigs in Town, what was it again, ah yes, “beset by beaux”, she may make a decision she will live to regret.’

‘And I take it you would have no objection to my paying my addresses, sir?’

‘Don’t be a damned fool. I would welcome you with open arms, as you ought to know full well. There’s none to follow me, the title goes to some second cousin, but the estate is not entailed, and it goes to Henrietta. Not that her inheritance is of importance to you, but it would please me to know it would be in good hands, as she would … in fact the best. I think you would rub along very well indeed, so go home, pack your bags, and go up to Town, post.’

‘Yes, sir, and … thank you.’ Charles rose, and shook his friend and mentor by the hand.

In the end it was some five days later that Lord Henfield arrived in the metropolis, a trifle travel-weary, and wondering if he had done the right thing. How might he compare to polished London beaux, and would it be possible for Henrietta to regard him in any other light than as a dear family friend? The answers in his head were negative.