He laughed. ‘You know me so well, my dear.’ He strolled over to a side table to select a decanter and he poured a tot into each of two glasses. ‘You will join me, won’t you?’ He handed one to her with a persuasive smile. ‘Come now, don’t frown at me, Patricia. You’ll crease that lovely alabaster brow.’

‘I might have preferred sherry. You should have given me the option, Eldon.’ Patricia accepted the drink anyway.

He took a seat opposite her and raised his glass. ‘I know you better than that, Patricia. You say all the correct things, but you enjoy a tot as much as I do, although admittedly not in quite the same quantity.’

‘I should hope not.’ She sipped the brandy and the warming effect of the alcohol made her relax a little. She sat back in her chair. ‘Why are you here, Eldon? You must have known that the Stantons’ dinner party would have been cancelled because of the fog.’

‘Of course I did, and I also knew that your husband would be delayed at the House. Surely the fact that I braved the terrors of the London Particular to come here this evening must convince you of my utter devotion to your beautiful self?’

Patricia eyed him over the rim of her glass. ‘I think you were bored, Eldon. You simply wanted to create mischief by coming here and compromising my good name.’

‘You do yourself an injustice, Patricia. I came here because I care about you. Besides which, you are the one woman in London with whom I can be myself. You speak your mind and you are good company, added to the fact that you are extremely beautiful and utterly desirable.’

‘And you are a rogue and an arch flatterer, but I must admit I was a trifle bored.’

‘I knew it and I’ve come to rescue you from a long and extremely dull evening. If I had my way we would always be together.’

Patricia downed the last of the brandy. ‘Are you telling me you wish to marry me, Eldon?’

He placed his empty glass on a drum table at the side of his chair. ‘If you weren’t already married to Greystone that is exactly what I would wish.’

Patricia met his earnest gaze and began to giggle. ‘You are such a liar, Eldon. If I was unmarried we wouldn’t be having this conversation.’

‘Do you doubt my feelings for you, my angel?’

‘Quite frankly, yes, I do. How old are you, Eldon?’

His eyes widened in surprise. ‘I’m thirty-three. I’m in my prime.’

‘I think if you had wanted to marry you would have done it many years ago. After all, you have all the assets that any matchmaking mama would consider requisite.’

‘Tell me about them, Patricia.’