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Cleome Stafford ran her fingers lightly over the keys to encourage people to resume their seats and cease their chatter. The butler had been topping up the champagne and the laughter had become just a bit more insistent, the company slightly less constrained. Her mother stood by the piano-forte and said to Lady Godley in a clear, carrying voice, ‘Dear Cleome has been fortunate enough to study with the Venetian master, Zampolli.’

With her audience settled and politely expectant, Lady Stafford placed her music on the stand and said in a modest voice, ‘I am going to play the first movement of Maestro John Field’s sonata in B major.’ Sybella recognised it as a lyrical but ambitious piece that had been too demanding for Lucie. She hoped it would not take too long to play, as her chair was already becoming uncomfortable. She glanced around the room. The Captain now sat alone but with his face turned towards the pianist. Her sister, Lucie, was sitting with Lord Ravenell while Freddie Lynwood had been asked to turn the pages of the sheet music and was standing poised by the piano. Lord Rockliffe and Mrs Markham had disappeared from their seats, the Duke was next to Lady Godley, engaged in desultory conversation while she twinkled up at him, and Mr Brabazon, sitting silently beside Sybella, was as inscrutable as ever. He inclined his head towards her. ‘I was going to discuss our proposed ride to Richmond, but this is perhaps not the time?’

‘I can hardly think it is. I lack the stamina for any more scolds.’

‘You mistake me, Ma’am. I’m not one to scold. It is such a waste of energy, I find,’ was his unruffled reply. The music then cut short any further repartee.

Lady Cleome was a skilled musician and she played the complex notes with grace and precision, sitting very upright, her slender arms and head as still as possible while her hands sped over the keys. She had been well-schooled in the proprieties and knew that a young woman should not express emotion or even too much movement during her performance. These constraints bleached her musical virtuosity of the unselfconscious simplicity that Lucie’s audience had found so affecting.

After ten minutes of Lady Cleome’s immaculate playing, people started to shift in their chairs. Sybella noticed a few whispered conversations. An arm reached for another champagne bottle and Lord Rockliffe and Mrs Markham reappeared, causing a further ripple of gossiping interest. Eyebrows were raised and knowing looks exchanged. Sybella glanced at Mr Brabazon, whose eyes were fixed on the pianist and his ward, doing his best to turn the music exactly when required. Lord Lynwood’s occasional dilatory action had provoked a momentary irritated frown on the lady’s beautiful face. But his attention was too much on his friend, Lord Ravenell, and Lucie whose lively expressions spoke of their already easy friendship.

Eventually the sonata ended and the enthusiastic applause was occasioned as much by relief as admiration. Everyone sprang to their feet. The butler broached a few more bottles of Lord Pomeroy’s celebrated cellar. People seemed reluctant to leave and Lady Godley appeared at Sybella’s elbow, her eyes alight. She led her to the window.

‘Oh, Bella! What a success we have had! Better than I could have hoped for, ma belle filleule! Look how she’s attracted the attention of two lords. And to top it all, Lady Sefton dropped in while Lucie was singing and was so enchanted she has promised me vouchers for you both for entry to Almack’s. My cup runneth over, my dear.’ Her step was light as she returned to her guests.

Mr Brabazon was one of the first to leave. Bowing over Sybella’s hand, he murmured, ‘What an excellent night. Reluctantly, I have to drag myself away from your stimulating company.’ His manner of speaking was so dispassionate, Sybella never knew how much irony and amusement lurked behind his words. As he took his evening cloak, his hat and cane from Samson, he turned. ‘May I call for you tomorrow afternoon and we could take a turn round the Park in the curricle, for an hour or so?’ Sybella was tired and could not work out quickly enough what her true feelings were and whether she wanted to spend an hour with such a provoking man. Mr Brabazon took her silence for acquiescence, and bowed. ‘I’ll call at four.’ He ran lightly down the stairs and turned left towards St James’s.

After most of the rest of the guests had gone, Sybella took leave of Lady Godley, who seemed perfectly happy to stay and chaperone the youngsters. Lucie was still up and in the company of Lords Ravenell and Lynwood, playing cards and teasing each other like the best of friends. Lucie had stood up to embrace her sister, her face radiant and slightly flushed with the excitement of the night. ‘I have had such a wonderful time, Bella. Thank you so much.’

‘I’m so glad it’s been such a succès fou, as your affectionate godmama predicted!’ They laughed and embraced again. ‘But don’t keep dear Lady Godley up too late.’

Sybella went to bed in an unsettled mood and only fell into a deep sleep in the early hours. She was woken too soon by her sister knocking lightly on the door. ‘Can I come in, Bella?’

Lucie padded across the floor and climbed into bed beside her, as they used to do when they were young. Sybella was still half asleep, but her sister was wide awake and wishing to talk. ‘I know Val likes to tease that we are brother and sister.’

‘Oh. it’s Val now, is it?’ She barely managed to stifle a sleepy yawn.

‘Yes, he asked me to call him that instead of Lord Ravenell. He says he has never liked having a title. It’s the reward from the great Queen Elizabeth to one of her infamous pirates, his dishonourable ancestor.’

‘Does he feel the same disdain for his inherited wealth?’

‘Bella! You know how useful a fortune is. How different life would be for us if we were heiresses.’

‘If you’re looking at it like that, a title is useful too, you know.’

‘Don’t be such a stickler.’ Lucie slapped her hand down on the blanket with feeling. ‘It’s true, in Town I find titles and wealth seem to matter more than anything else. What a world!’ She looked downcast.

‘Don’t take it too much to heart, my dearest, you and I have neither and yet we are not shunned.’

‘’Tis true. But neither of us are great catches on the marriage market, are we? We can’t judge our attractions until we have had an offer.’

‘You are a beauty and charming and competent too, and will make some fortunate man the best of wives.’ Sybella put a consoling arm around her shoulder and kissed her forehead. ‘If he’s now Val, are you no longer Miss Carey but Lucie?’ she quizzed her.

‘Well, actually, he calls me Loo. I like it, don’t you?’ She snuggled closer to her sister, putting her cold feet on her legs to warm up.

‘Oh, Lucie, don’t make me cold!’ Sybella wriggled away, trying to keep the warm bit of the bed to herself.

‘I wanted to ask you something, Bella. Val talks about us being brother and sister, I know it’s partly just funning, but he’s even been plaguing his papa about it.’

‘I know. He’s a very mischievous young man to cast unjust aspersions on our mother like that.’ Sybella had sat up and looked Lucie in the face. ‘The Duke assured me our mother’s character was quite unimpeached. It’s true he knew her and our father when they were young. He even suggested he had wanted to marry Mama, but I think that was just his diplomatic art. You must know, Lucie, poor Mama never went to Town again after I was born. She was just busy at the Manor. And happy enough with Papa, I trust.’

‘But I feel this odd familiarity with Val from when I first met him, as if I know him because he’s a part of me.’

‘That’s such a rare and precious feeling, I know, but it doesn’t mean you are connected through blood.’ She turned to look searchingly into her sister’s face. ‘Do you think you could love him?’

‘I do love him, Bella. But like a brother. I feel my life is so much better with him in it.’

Lucie’s expression touched her sister’s heart. ‘And what about Lord Lynwood?’ she asked quietly, remembering his intent look last night.