‘I … last night, Miss Gaydon, I spoke as you said, as though you and I were still back in Shropshire. I wanted us to be upon the best of terms, and in attempting to regain the friendship we used to have, I … I made a mess of things, and then compounded my error by sulking, which made me far more of the “child” than you. I beg you will forgive me, and cast the evening from your mind, and’ – he glanced at Lady Elstead – ‘if Lady Elstead permits, I beg also that you will accept this small token as apology, and with my enduring affection.’ He withdrew the small parcel from his pocket and held it out to Henrietta. Her fingers touched his as she took it from him, and he swallowed hard. She looked at her aunt, who nodded, and Henrietta proceeded to unwrap a small box in which a pearl ring nestled in blue velvet. A small ‘flower’ of pearls surrounded a little sparkling diamond, and the shoulders of the ring were set with delicate emeralds. Lord Henfield had a sudden panic that the ring would prove too large or too small for any of her fingers. He let out an audible sigh of relief when, after finding it a little tight upon the middle finger of her right hand, she slipped it, with the merest effort over the knuckle, onto the fourth finger. She raised her eyes to his, and they were misty.

‘It is I who should apologise, my lord, and I am not deserving of such a gift, which is to reward behaviour of which I can assure you I am ashamed. I was both churlish and childish, and … I am sorry, Charles.’ The last four words were blurted out, and had he been alone with her he would have taken both her hands and held them tightly, and used his pet name for her, but he knew her aunt disapproved of ‘Henry’. He could but smile a little shakily at her.

‘I am glad you like it.’ He paused. He really could not ask what he had planned to ask, that she let him start afresh, not with others listening, but then he had an idea. ‘It is not, of course, a bribe, Miss Gaydon, but might I be so very bold as to request a dance upon the next occasion we meet where there is dancing? Perhaps tonight, if you are to be at Almack’s?’ His tone was cajoling and sincere but not over-serious.

‘You have my hand upon it, sir,’ Henrietta managed, though her throat felt tight, and she extended the hand graced by the pearl ring, and clasped his, squeezing it very slightly. ‘Friends,’ she whispered, and for a moment Charles Henfield forgot the other ladies in the room.

‘Yes,’ he answered, as softly. It was, he thought, a step back in the right direction.