Anything more private was impossible, as Caroline waxed lyrical over the gift, and edged closer to her cousin, to enable her to turn Henrietta’s hand one way and then the other to catch the light. For her own part, Henrietta was overcome, and rendered thereafter speechless for the rest of the visit.

When he left, shortly afterwards, having refused the offer of tea, he went to his club, where he took a brandy, and wandered a little aimlessly about the rooms, contemplating an evening at Almack’s with a mixture of anticipation and dread. It was in the billiard room that he met Lords Gorleston and Netheravon, arguing good-naturedly over the rival merits of two horses entered for the Derby.

‘Afternoon, Henfield. I have nearly beaten Gorleston all hollow here, so if you wish to take over …’

‘I warn you, Netheravon has had the most amazing luck this afternoon.’ Lord Gorleston smiled at his two friends. ‘Of course, it could just be that I should not have had that Chablis.’ Whether he had injudiciously imbibed or not, he was perfectly capable of noticing that Lord Henfield appeared in a better frame of mind. ‘Drowning your sorrows or celebrating, my dear fellow?’ He nodded at Lord Henfield’s glass.

‘Neither, though you do find me more hopeful than earlier.’

‘Well, if it is because you have put money on Waterloo in a fit of patriotic fervour, do not get too hopeful; in fact, do not get hopeful at all,’ commented Lord Netheravon. ‘My money’s on Manfred, though Gorleston here is still with The Student. Odds are too short for my liking on him.’

‘Er, no.’ Lord Henfield did not wish to reveal his thoughts, especially to Netheravon.

‘Would have more interest in the runners for the Oaks,’ remarked Lord Gorleston cryptically.

‘Ah, now I never feel as sure about fillies.’ Lord Netheravon shook his head. ‘You simply cannot trust them to behave to form. I only once bet on the Oaks and the filly played up all the way to the start and threw the jockey the moment the starter dropped his flag.’

‘Exactly Henfield’s problem, eh, Henfield?’ Lord Gorleston grinned, but then nodded at Lord Henfield’s frown. He was not going to give the game away. However, Lord Netheravon had made the mental leap from four legs to two without further prompting.

‘Whichever way you look at it, the female of the species, and it applies to all species most likely … not just human beings but even tigers or … squirrels … anyway, the female of the species thinks differently and can career off in the most unlikely direction for no apparent reason. Do not get me wrong, the “fillies” trotted out at Almack’s are delightful, but can one understand them? I am deuced sure that I cannot.’