When dinner was announced, Patricia went to the dining room and sat in state at the head of the table. She picked at her food, although it was delicious and beautifully presented. For the first time in her married life she felt lonely. Perhaps it was the feeling of being isolated by the penetrating blanket of foul-smelling fog that had unsettled her, but she went to her room as soon as she had finished eating. She rang for her maid and within minutes Betsey hurried into Patricia’s elegant bedchamber, slightly out of breath.

‘I’m going to bed now.’

‘Very well, my lady.’

Patricia waited while Betsey undid the tiny fabric-covered buttons at the back of her dinner gown, followed by the laces on her stays. Despite the fire blazing up the chimney, the room felt damp and Patricia shivered when Betsey slipped the fine lawn nightgown over her head.

‘Has my husband returned from the House, Betsey?’

‘Not to my knowledge, my lady. The fog is getting thicker by the minute if that’s possible.’

‘Then I hope it’s an all-night sitting. It would be madness to attempt to get home in these conditions.’

‘Shall I do your hair, my lady?’

Patricia nodded and sat on the dressing table stool. ‘I hope it’s lifted by morning.’

‘It generally does, my lady.’ Betsey took the pins from her elaborate coiffure one by one, placing them in a silver pin tray.

Patricia closed her eyes while Betsey brushed her long golden hair in smooth soothing strokes, but after a while she raised her hand. ‘Thank you, Betsey. That will be all.’

‘Goodnight, my lady.’ Betsey curtsied and hurried from the room, leaving Patricia alone once again.

The silence in the street below was eerie and with the servants’ quarters far away below stairs, Patricia felt suddenly that she was the last person on earth. She climbed into bed, pulling the covers over her head. Sir Michael had his own room but tonight she would have willingly shared her bed with her husband. His conjugal visits were infrequent, and Patricia suspected that he kept a mistress hidden away somewhere, but she accepted this as part of life. Most of the married women she knew had husbands who enjoyed the favours of others, and for the most part they chose to ignore such peccadilloes. Patricia sighed. She had chosen this life with her eyes open and she did not regret her decision. It must be the winter weather, but tonight she felt lonely. She almost wished that she had invited Eldon to stay for dinner, but she knew in her heart that would have been a mistake. Eldon was too attractive to be safe, and too amusing to be ignored. She huddled down between the sheets and drifted into a dreamless sleep.