Exhilarating hope surged along every nerve and vein in his body. Ever since he had been thirteen, he had spent very little time at home and so had not had the opportunity to form the kind of friendship with Hélène that he knew his sisters had. He tried to remember when he had last seen her to talk to, and rather thought it had been at Ascot, three years ago.

But, given the opportunity, would someone as beautiful as Hélène have him? He remembered how confident he had been of Alicky accepting his proposal, and how devastating to his confidence her refusal had been. What if the same thing happened again? If it did, he doubted he would survive it.

‘Even if I proposed, she might not have me. She’s such an acclaimed beauty and so delightfully French and . . .’

‘And here comes the best bit!’ As Eddy seemed intent on letting his cigarette burn away unsmoked, Maudie took it from him, inhaled, blew smoke into the air and said, ‘She will have you, Eddy dear, because she has told us that ever since she was sixteen she has been in love with you.’

For a hideous second, Eddy wondered if his sisters were having a huge tease at his expense.

‘It’s true, Eddy.’ Looloo slipped her hand into his and gave it a reassuring squeeze, ‘and since my married home in London is East Sheen Lodge, and since the Parises live less than a mile away at Sheen House, nothing could be easier than for you and Hélène to get to know each other better, by meeting at the Lodge as my guests. And Hélène would have no need of a chaperone, because as I am an old married lady now, I can chaperone her.’

His gratitude was so deep he barely trusted himself to speak. That someone as beautiful as Hélène should love him – and had done so for more than three years – was so wonderful he hardly dared believe it was true. When he had entered the room ten minutes ago he had been certain that his future held only a dutiful marriage to someone he liked, but knew he could never love. Now, in a matter of minutes, all that had changed.

If Hélène loved him, then she would accept his proposal of marriage.

And if she accepted his proposal of marriage, all his troubles would be over and he would be the happiest man on the planet.

Chapter Fifteen

JUNE 1890, LONDON

May and Maudie were walking out of the Royal Academy after viewing the Summer Exhibition.

‘I’m so glad you weren’t otherwise engaged this morning,’ Maudie said, linking arms with May. ‘I know you nearly always have an engagement to attend with your mama, but I did so want to have a chat with you, away from the rest of the family.’