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The usual band of friends was due for dinner before peeling off to their clubs or other forms of entertainment.

The Wolfe household, with Corinna at its heart, provided the warm embrace of family without any answering responsibility.

This was particularly appealing to Ferdy Shilton and Lord Purfoy who had obstinately eschewed matrimony for the carefree pleasures of bachelorhood, but enjoyed the comforts of home, run by a competent woman who created for them all such a seductive sense of kinship.

Eliza walked into the drawing room where Mr Shilton lounged like an elegant faun, one slender pantalooned leg crossed over the other. His manners were impeccable and on sight of her, he sprang with grace to his feet, took her hand and bowed. ‘What a pleasure to see you again, Miss Gray.’

Zadoc Flynn was reading The Sporting Magazine and he too got to his feet. ‘Miss Gray, it’s not an hour since we last parted but it’s always a pleasure to see you.’ He bowed low in an amused parody of the expected mores. Eliza laughed.

Corinna joined them wearing a fine corded silk dress but her fingertips were still stained with paint.

She handed a small leather-bound volume to Eliza.

‘I thought you might enjoy this. Lord Byron’s The Corsair .

Alick ordered it from Hatchards to make sure he got a copy.

’ In delight, Eliza stroked the gleaming green calfskin as Corinna continued, ‘It’s wonderfully adventurous and romantic, I think you’d enjoy it. ’

Just as they were settling round the table, Gibbons announced Lord Purfoy.

‘Apologies, my dears,’ he drawled. He was as panther-like in his grace as ever but paler than usual and seeming low in spirit.

He subsided into his chair opposite Eliza and Mr Flynn and said to the room at large, ‘The life of a nobleman is not a happy one! Oh the utter tedium of having nothing worthwhile to do, and to spend so much time doing it.’

Alick had begun to carve the beef and looked up to meet the disconsolate eyes of his friend.

‘Why not take on the management of your estates, Rav? You have such wealth in those fertile acres and the castle could do with some updating and care. Mine gives me great pleasure, second only to my family.’ He waved his carving knife in the direction of his wife.

His friend scoffed. ‘Life in the country is even more irksome than life in Town. What to do for diversion? I even find hunting and shooting a bore, certainly find the people who indulge in them so. The contemptible in pursuit of the inedible. Nothing to do in that benighted land but bet on the one-legged goose winning the race or shadow-boxing with the trees.’

Corinna was concerned. ‘Why so melancholic, Rav? What has happened to disturb your mood?’

Ferdy intervened with a laugh, ‘His lordship rose from his bed unconscionably early. I know how dangerous that can be for a man’s equilibrium.’

Mr Flynn offered his own remedy. ‘Why not breed racehorses as I intend to do? You have your own unerring eye and Taz’s experience.’

Eliza felt her heart leap at the thought and blurted out, ‘I’d really like to do that.’ Everyone looked at her in surprise and she coloured. ‘Of course, if I ever have my own family and home.’

Lord Purfoy’s eyes were on her when he asked, ‘What is family? Like you, Miss Gray, I have no family but my friends, my horses and Taz. Those alone I care for, they’re all I need.’

Eliza had been held by his intense gaze as he spoke with more feeling than she had heard in his voice before. She leaned forward and said in earnest, ‘You do have a home and security, a place in Society. Above all, you know where you’ve come from, my lord. That’s what I long for.’

‘But my home and my history merely bring further grief. You have a bare slate on which to write a new story, free of the pain of the past.’ Eliza was so caught in his gaze it felt they were speaking only to each other, both in a storm of different thoughts and desires.

He had everything she longed for but was discontented, and she had nothing but was full of hope.

Somehow they were connected each to the other through a force neither understood, and a recognition of the loneliness of their souls.

The moment was broken by Ferdy’s voice. ‘Miss Gray, you’re clinging to that volume as if your life depended on it?’

Eliza looked down at the book in her lap, amazed to see how white her knuckles had grown with the force of her grip.

As if returning from a dream she said, ‘Ah! Lord Byron’s The Corsair, kindly lent to me by Mrs Wolfe .

’ She handed it to him with a reverence that he remarked upon and she replied, ‘It is the greatest privilege for me to have a book to read when and where I choose. I was not brought up with books. In fact, they were frowned upon and I had to read in secret.’

Lord Purfoy laughed. ‘There are some who think Lord Byron should not be read by the young or virtuous. I presume you fit both of those categories?’

‘He came with some of his friends to see the performance of the Prebbles Flying Circus. There was such commotion. It was the night I almost fell off Percy while I was dancing on his back.’

‘My only regret is that I never went to see you perform myself. Clorinda the Winged Venus conjures the most delicious image.’ Lord Purfoy had returned to his teasing, sardonic manner and Eliza did not know what to make of him at all.

Alick was tucking into the food when he looked up and said, ‘Well, Ferdy’s seen Miss Gray’s performance.’

‘I have. And most affecting it was too.’

Corinna interrupted their masculine banter. ‘Gentlemen, spare Miss Gray’s blushes. I hope you will all be gracing Lady Bassett’s ball tomorrow night?’

Men about Town liked to complain about the dullness of the Season’s balls and musical soirées, largely because most hostesses refused to provide gaming tables.

Experienced hostesses did not care to see the male guests drift away from dance floor or musical entertainment, seduced by the more diverting charms of cards and dice.

But Lady Bassett was a gamester herself and very happy to combine as many pleasures as she legally could at her famous ball.

Ferdy Shilton was keen. ‘I surely will. I can’t ignore a chance to display my latest sartorial triumph. I’ve had Meyer craft me an evening coat in silver grey to wear with my oyster silk pantaloons.’

Lord Purfoy was less enthusiastic. ‘As you know I’d rather be at my club but I promised Miss Gray a dance in penance for my reckless driving. I won’t stay long. Such glittering gallimaufry adds to the deadly tedium of Town life.’

‘Oh come on, Raven, you know you find it diverting seeing all the new debutantes and their mamas, the old roués and young sprigs jostling for preferment. You enjoy nothing more than casting a cynical eye over the passing show.’ Alick knew his friend well.

Zadoc Flynn was emphatic in his delight.

‘I’m pleased to be able to attend. It will be interesting to contrast a big ball during the London Season with the dances back home.

’ He returned to his meal but then mentioned his controversial plan.

‘I intend to bring a guest. I know I haven’t obtained an invitation for her, but she has never been to such an event and I thought it would be a treat for her to have a taste of a different life. ’ He looked rather shamefaced.

Lord Purfoy noticed his demeanour and asked, ‘Different, how different?’

‘Well, she’s a performer at Prebbles Flying Circus, a friend of Miss Gray’s.’

‘And her name?’

‘Miss Bowman, Rose Bowman.’

Ferdy Shilton looked doubtful. ‘Beware, without an invitation, your guest may be turned away. Regardless of her own dubious past and unconventional present, Lady Bassett is an enforcer of the proprieties at her social events. I think she’s afraid of a brawl breaking out, or any hint of scandal.

Making a point of her virtuousness erases her scandalous record.

’ Eliza felt her unease grow. She did not wish either Rose or herself to be exposed and disgraced.