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‘Thank you, Val.’ She looked across to where Lord Ravenell was standing next to Mr Brabazon, surrounded by horses and watching with a complex play of emotion in his face.

Valentine Ravenell mounted his horse quickly and said quietly to Anthony Brabazon, ‘I’ll see if my father’s surgeon is available and bring him to the house.’

‘Can I borrow your curricle, Ant? If Mrs Lovatt thinks it’s safe to move Lucie, I would like to drive them both back to Green Street.’

‘Of course, Freddie. Whatever needs be done. I’ll walk back with Val and take Lady Stafford home. But I’ll help you lift Miss Carey into the curricle.’ He offered Sybella his hand. She had been kneeling and was grateful for his help getting up. He led her to the curricle and with a firm hand passed her up to the seat. Then he and Lord Lynwood picked Lucie up with great care and gently placed her next to Sybella, so that Freddie could sit on the other side of her. She was still ghostly pale and weak. Sybella put her arm around her sister and supported the back of her head as Lord Lynwood turned the curricle and drove Mr Brabazon’s horses as slowly and quietly as they would accept.

Samson’s lugubrious face fell even further when he opened the door to see Miss Lucie, white-faced and bedraggled, returned from her ride in the Park. Alice came hurrying from the back of the house and together she and Sybella half-walked, half-carried Lucie up the stairs to bed.

Lord Lynwood was shown into the drawing room, where Lady Godley soon joined him. ‘You look like you need a drink.’ She poured out two glasses of brandy. Freddie Lynwood slumped on the sofa, looking like death. His hand was pulling at his already dishevelled locks and Lady Godley watched him with interest. He let out an involuntary groan.

‘Something’s troubling you, young man. It’s much better out than in, you know.’ Lady Godley was brisk as she sat down opposite him.

‘Oh, my apologies, Lady Godley. I didn’t mean to spread my gloom over you too.’ He gulped a mouthful of brandy.

‘Gloom, how so?’

‘For a time, as Lucie lay there in my arms and I thought she might die, I realised she’s the most important person to me in the world.’

‘There’s something very gratifying about such clarity, wouldn’t you agree?’

‘Yes… No, no! I’m in a snare and there’s no way out.’ He sat, his head bowed, gazing into his glass with blank eyes.

‘There’s always a way out, you know.’

‘I can’t see it this time.’ He sighed again, slouched dramatically on the sofa like a romantic hero from whom all hope had fled.

Lady Godley realised that she needed to take the initiative in this conversation. ‘Is your dilemma to do with Lucie and Valentine?’ she asked gently.

Lord Lynwood looked up sharply, as if he had been shot. ‘No…! I mean perhaps. How do you know?’

‘It’s as clear as the nose on your face.’

‘What is?’ He was agitated and his handsome face was distorted with emotion.

‘That you love her, of course. It’s clear to everyone, I should think.’

He let out a great groan and sank his head into his hands. In a muffled voice, he said, ‘How can it be when I’ve only just realised it myself?’ He raised his head, a distraught expression on his face. ‘The worst thing is, I love Val too. And I don’t even know what Lucie feels. Perhaps I’m doomed to a life without love.’ His shoulders heaved.

‘Come now, Freddie, you’ve seen too many Cheltenham tragedies. Instead of indulging in le mélodramatique so favoured by the poets, let us see what can be devised.’

‘What can be done! Val’s going to marry Lucie and I’m meant to be paying court to an heiress to save my estates.’

‘Is that Anthony Brabazon’s plan?’

‘The heiress part is.’

‘Well, what are the wishes of those involved, I wonder? Perhaps you should find that out first before you play the noble sacrificial role you seem to have assigned to yourself.’ Lady Godley was brusque.

‘Val is my best friend. How can I betray him by claiming Lucie for myself?’

‘Until you know what Valentine and Lucie feel, you cannot know what would constitute betrayal.’

There was a faint rustle at the door and Samson slid into view. ‘M’lady, Lord Ravenell has called to enquire after Miss Lucie.’ His voice was dull with disapproval.

‘Oh, good. Show him up, Samson.’

Valentine Ravenell burst into the room. ‘Lady Godley, Freddie, how is she? After chasing around, I eventually found my father’s quack. He’s gone up to her now.’