The words had barely left her lips when a tall, handsome man with dark auburn hair and a wicked twinkle in his grey eyes strode past Foster. He came to a halt and with an exaggerated gesture he swept off his top hat and bowed.

‘Forgive the intrusion, Lady Greystone.’

Patricia made a determined effort to look casual as she rose to her feet, but she was always pleased to see Larkin Eldon, despite the fact that he was a notorious flirt with questionable morals. She was fully aware that he had a tendency to gamble recklessly, cushioned by the huge fortune he had inherited from his late father. It was said that he could drink the hardest toper under the table and still present as being reasonably sober, but despite his raffish reputation he was immensely popular with both men and women. He could charm the sternest matron, should the necessity arise, and one look from him would set the debutantes’ hearts aflutter. Patricia was not so naïve, but there was something irresistible about Eldon and she genuinely enjoyed his company.

‘My husband has not returned from the House, Eldon,’ she said primly. ‘The sitting has gone on longer than expected.’

‘So I believe, my lady.’ Eldon handed his top hat, gloves and greatcoat to Foster. ‘I trust you won’t send me out into the peasouper without allowing me to recover from the exertion of walking here this evening. I had to feel my way along the railings outside the houses to reach your home. The fog is so thick I almost had to crawl on my hands and knees.’

Patricia knew she had lost the first round in the battle, and if she were to be honest with herself she was delighted to see Eldon. She was fully aware that his ardent pursuit of her company was a reaction to her refusal to be one of his many conquests, but Eldon could make her laugh and he was an excellent guest at a dinner party or a soiree. He excelled as a dancing partner and he had introduced her to the excitement of card games such as Faro and Baccarat, and the thrill of picking the winning numbers in Roulette. He had made flirtation an art.

Foster cleared his throat. ‘My lady?’

‘It’s all right, Foster. Lord Eldon is welcome to stay until he feels he can brave the weather again.’

‘Will his lordship be dining tonight, my lady?’

Patricia met Eldon’s amused look with a shake of her head. ‘I don’t think so, Foster.’

Foster bowed and left the room, straight-faced as ever but somehow managing to express his disapproval.

‘Aren’t you going to offer me a brandy? I did come all this way just to see you, Patricia.’

‘Eldon you never do anything unless it is for your own amusement or pleasure. If you want a glass of brandy you know where to find the decanter and a glass.’