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“Mrs. Monroe reminds me of the dowager countess and all of her friends who turned their noses up at me when I first married Alistair,” said Lady Winman.

Sylvia started laughing again, shaking her head as she did. “I’m very sorry, it’s just that Claire would be devastated to hear that a countess disapproves of her.”

“I’m not much of a countess,” said Lady Winman.

“Oh, I’m not sure I’d say that.”

The countess gave her a little smile as the cab pulled up to the curb and the driver hopped out to open their doors. “Anyway, we’re here.”

Sylvia looked out of the window and up at the imposing white facade of the huge Eton Square mansion they’d pulled in front of.

“I thought you might like a cup of tea on neutral ground before you have to face the world again,” Lady Winman added.

“That would be lovely.”

“Good,” said Lady Winman, “because I have a proposition for you. But first, tea.”

Sylvia followed the countess out of the cab and up the steps to the mansion’s front door, where they were met by a tall, slender woman in housekeeper’s black.

“Good afternoon, Mrs. Teaks. I’m afraid I’m back rather sooner than I expected, and Mrs. Pearsall and I are both in need of refreshment,” said the countess, handing the housekeeper her things.

“Very good, madam. Would tea in the drawing room suffice?” asked Mrs. Teaks with a small but warm smile for Sylvia.

“I think we’ll be more comfortable in my study, actually, if you don’t mind, Mrs. Pearsall?” asked Lady Winman.

“Not at all,” she said.

“Good,” said Lady Winman as Mrs. Teaks disappeared to arrange for tea. “Right, then. I’ll show you the way.”

However, before they could move off, a door opened behind them and a tall man with wildly curling dark hair and a pair of dark-framed glasses perched on his nose strode in. Immediately, everything about the countess seemed to soften as the man’s face lit up at the sight of her.

“Darling, I thought you were at the ministry for the rest of the day,” said Lady Winman.

“Goodness, you look beautiful today.” The earl stooped to kiss his wife. “I’m afraid this is just a quick stop for me. I left some papers behind and I need them for my next meeting. I could have sent a courier, but I decided I could do with the walk.

“Hello,” said the earl, letting go of his wife’s waist as he seemed to realize for the first time that Sylvia was there. “I hope you don’t mind a horrible display of affection between two married people.”

Sylvia laughed. “Not at all. It’s rather refreshing actually.”

“I’m Winman,” said the earl, sticking out his hand for her to shake before his wife could make an introduction. “How do you do?”

“Darling, this is Mrs. Pearsall,” said Lady Winman. “I’m about to try to convince her to defect from Lady Nolan’s committee with me.”

Sylvia shot a glance at Lady Winman, who grinned at her.

“That won’t take any convincing. I’ve been given the boot,” said Sylvia.

“Better and better,” said Lord Winman. “You two can be rebels from stodgy old Mayfair and set the world on fire.”

“That is the plan,” said Lady Winman.

“Well, I’ll leave you to your scheming,” said the earl.

“I’ll see you for supper, darling,” said Lady Winman.

The earl kissed her again and sprang up the stairs, taking them two at a time.

Lady Winman turned back to Sylvia with an indulgent shake of her head. “That man is a boundless ball of energy. I sometimes wonder if he leaves papers at home simply so he can have an excuse to race out of the endless ministry meetings.”