‘Well, that’s most interesting.’ Mrs Camier’s encouraging murmur suddenly acquired an acerbic note; her eyelids ceased their motion. She had herself once contemplated marriage for money: she could not recall if the price had seemed as high. Hastily she returned her attention to Villiers Hadnett, who was now revealing details concerning his state of health.

‘So she’s not to marry Hugh Pollexfen?’ Lady Rossboyne said loudly and in a general way.

‘No.’ It was Lionel who replied, being close by.

‘The engagement was broken off more than ten years ago,’ Mrs Rolleston called down the table.

‘At Buttevant we made sure it was Hugh Pollexfen. The present I brought had Hugh Pollexfen in mind.’

‘Villana is to marry Mr Balt,’ Mr Camier explained.

‘Of course she is. They told us in the drawing-room. What I’m saying is why not Hugh Pollexfen?’

‘A disagreement, I dare say,’ Mr Camier hazarded, and gave one of his short laughs. ‘Presumably they were unsuited.’

Lady Rossboyne was not entirely satisfied by that. The couple would not have become engaged in the first place if they were unsuited, she pointed out. She had taken the bridegroom they’d been presented with to be Hugh Pollexfen’s uncle, one of the Pollexfens of Rosscarbery. She found the circumstances bizarre.

‘Of course it is often the case,’ the Bishop confided to Mrs Rolleston, ‘that a singular match turns out to be one of the most profound happiness.’ The severity of his eyes deepened, affected by a mood of earnestness. ‘I have observed it often in my experience.’

‘I, on the contrary, have not. I quite deplore all this.’

‘Deplore?’

‘This wedding is an occasion of farce.’

Aghast, the Bishop made a sound he had not intended to, caused by the onset of alarm. Food hurried down his throat. His jaw sagged.

‘I have come to conduct the wedding,’ he said, realising as he spoke that the words were foolish.

‘You may recall you wrote to ask if you might.’

‘I do indeed recall. It seemed a friendly move to make. A wedding within the family. I am a bishop, after all.’

‘Villana was touched. She shares with you this family thing.’

‘I had no idea you disapproved.’

It is not disapproval. Disapproval is a different sentiment entirely. It is simply that I yet have hopes Villana may draw back.’

In what way draw back? What do you mean?’

I mean that, faced with the ultimate before the altar, Villana will walk away from it. I really cannot see that she’ll fail to realise in time.’

‘But this is no way to begin a marriage. They have vows to make. I shall be speaking to both of them. I was quite unaware there was some doubt.’

‘I had a dream that Villana said she was destroying the poor man’s peace of mind.’

‘A dream?’