Rosa’s friend, Lord Randolph, was known for his lavish parties, and the ballroom tonight was festooned with holly garlands and hundreds of white orchids. It was the event of the Season, and all the guests turned to look at Eustace and Rosa as they entered. This was their first appearance as an official couple since the engagement was announced and Rosa intended to enjoy every glorious moment.

The evening seemed to pass in a whirlwind of dancing and champagne. Rosa lost track of the number of congratulations she accepted from well-wishers. Whenever she stepped off the dance floor she faced an avalanche of girls, keen to prise details from her about the upcoming wedding. She would have danced all night if she could have done so, but Eustace was concerned for her feet and she finally allowed him to lead her to a chair for a rest. Cookie seemed glad of the break too – the clockwork pug wasn’t as young as he’d once been – and flopped down beside Rosa’s chair with a creaking of old hinges. She made a mental note to oil him as soon as they were home. He was by far the oldest clockwork creature she had, and mechanical animals required more care and attention as they got older, just as flesh-and-blood ones did.

‘May I fetch you something?’ Eustace asked. ‘Some sweetmeats? Another glass of champagne?’

Rosa felt herself bask in the warm glow of his attention. He was always so very considerate towards her, forever mindful of her comfort, and attentive to the smallest hint of a desire. It seemed to Rosa that he was determined to provide her with anything and everything she could possibly want, the very moment she wanted it.

He went off to the buffet, leaving Rosa tapping her feet to the orchestra, impatient to join the dancing again as soon as possible.

‘I hear congratulations are in order.’

She looked up to see James standing before her. She had known he was present – she’d recognised his flowers the moment she entered the house. Cookie immediately heaved to his creaking feet and greeted the orchid hunter with much excitement and tinny yapping.

‘Hello, old fellow.’ James crouched down to stroke the dog’s metal ears before glancing back up at Rosa. ‘And so you got everything you ever wanted in the end. I’m truly happy for you.’

There was a warm smile upon his face and Rosa returned it gladly. His proposal, and the uncertainty she’d felt over it, seemed a world away now. How fortunate that she had not allowed herself to lose her head, and how lucky that she had never betrayed her own brief infatuation, or else none of this would be happening now.

‘Thank you,’ she said, beaming. ‘You’ll provide the orchids for the wedding, of course? I want hundreds and hundreds of them. Thousands! And you know that Raven Hall has forty hothouses in the grounds?’