‘I … I think I knew I loved her well over a year back, at heart, but you see, we had been so close, but like family, that it seemed wrong, and I recall her as a babe in arms.’

‘The age gap is immaterial. Most men are considerably older than their wives, but since they marry adults, not “babes in arms”, the years between are merely periods of time. Your disadvantage is that you know the process of her growing up. As a man, you now have to dismiss that. And my second question?’

‘Er, well …’ Lord Henfield blushed. ‘Not really a ladies’ man.’

‘Hmm, so she is the first chit to make you act like a lovesick fool. You have also to admit, she has attracted you just because she has treated you more like a brother, and not fluttered her eyelashes at you, and scared you off.’

‘I suppose that is true.’

‘Then, forgive me, are you sure that no other young woman in London would please you?’ Lady Vernham looked hard at him. ‘You have not entertained that thought, have you. You came post-haste to win the girl you have decided you love, but find her altered from the confiding neighbour.’ Her ladyship tapped a finger upon the arm of her chair, and said nothing for a full minute.

‘Lady Vernham, I cannot deny I have never courted another young woman, have few among my acquaintance even, but Henrietta is my personal perfection, knowing as I do her “imperfections”. I do not idolise her as some beautiful goddess, you see. I love her for what lies beneath, at least I think still lies beneath.’

‘She dresses in the high kick of fashion, and is lapping up the adulation of being one of the hits of the Season. Is the new Miss Gaydon the butterfly from the chrysalis, or “your” Miss Gaydon acting on the stage that is the Season? No’ – Lady Vernham admonished with a finger – ‘do not answer me. I will say in favour of the latter that she is courted by a host of eligible fribbles, and, I note, Newbold, who is no fribble, but I have not seen any sign that she favours any above the rest. A maid on the catch would have been narrowing the field by now, if she had any sense, and Maria Elstead would be pushing her hard. So she is not mercenary, though with her inheritance …’

‘Ma’am? Forgive me, but Henrietta is not some great heiress. My godfather’s past investment in the Trent and Mersey Canal has paid good dividends, I know, and his estate is profitable and of some size, but it is hardly ducal, and he is in excellent health, so she may well not inherit, I hope, for another twenty years.’