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‘It’s the Duchess of Arlington’s ball for her son and she wouldn’t choose to have me attend.’

‘She’s told me I can’t come as I’m too young. But that can’t be her excuse for you?’ she said mischievously. ‘Lord Latimer cares for you and has told me once he’s attained his majority he intends to marry you.’

Angelica frowned. ‘He really ought not to talk so carelessly.’

‘But it would bring happiness. You’d be part of my family.’

‘Oh my dear, I would very much like to be part of your family. But I don’t think it’s realistic, you know?’ She had taken the child’s hand.

‘Why is Aunt Edwina set against you, Miss Leigh?’

‘It’s complicated. Actresses like me aren’t expected to marry into your world.’

The girl’s brow wrinkled. ‘So Lady Linus is the sort of woman to marry men like my father and cousin Charlie?’

‘That’s the way it is,’ Angelica said with a wry smile. She sighed. ‘I think I’ll really have to go back to bed, Miss Elinor.’

‘Of course. But I don’t understand the world. You’re much kinder, wiser and more beautiful than anybody I’ve seen.’ The force of her feeling had made the young girl spring to her feet, just as Miss Stafford re-entered the room. Together they helped Angelica up from the sofa.

Miss Stafford handed the velvet jewellery pouch to Angelica. ‘Don’t forget this, Miss Leigh.’

Quick-eyed, Elinor had noticed the transaction. ‘What’s in that?’

Angelica smiled. ‘Perhaps I’ll show you some day.’ When she was alone in her room she withdrew the necklace from the bag and fixed the clasp round her neck. Gazing at her reflection in the looking-glass, she gasped at its beauty. The necklace seemed to gather every scintilla in the room and intensify it into a flashing, flowing river of light that added luminosity to her own face. She put her hands to her throat and cradled the stones. ‘My grandmother’s most treasured possession and I will treasure it.’ Could they be diamonds, she wondered, but the value was of little consequence; it was the connection with family that touched her spirit. From feeling alone in the world with only her mother to call her own, she now knew she had a family, flawed and unknown, but family none the less.

* * *

The morning dawned bright and fresh with the kind of pellucid light that comes after a night of rain. After being so ill, Angelica’s first walk in the fresh air was something to look forward to. She dressed in her favourite sky-blue twill gown with the long sleeves that kept her warm, and threw her fur-edged tippet over her shoulders. Mary was surprised to see her up but deftly arranged her abundant hair into a loose bun. Then on a whim, she added a yellow silk camellia that gave her mistress an exotic appearance for the usual morning pursuits.

Angelica descended the stairs and made her way for the first time to the breakfast room. She entered without a sound and was surprised to see Ivor Asprey still there; he usually breakfasted early before riding his hunter in the Park. She stood uncertainly at the threshold watching him, absorbed in a paper he held in one hand. There was a bowl of steaming coffee by his elbow as his long fingers turned a page of what looked like a handwritten report. His dark head was bowed as he read. She noticed how fine the line was between his cheekbones and his aquiline nose, and his hair, still slightly damp from his morning ablutions and curling over his high white collar, seemed darker than she remembered. She could only have stood there for a half minute or so, seeing him as if for the first time, when he looked up, surprised. His deep eyes softened as he smiled, languidly uncrossed his legs and rose to his feet.

‘My dear Miss Leigh, what a pleasure to see you up and looking so much better than when I last saw you.’

Angelica blushed at being reminded of the dire state from which his speedy intervention had saved her. But she had put from her mind the thought of how improper it had been for him to see her in such disarray. ‘I haven’t been able to thank you, Mr Asprey, for saving my life.’

‘Come and sit down. I don’t think you were on the brink of quite such a crisis but you were not at all well, ’tis true. I am just pleased I could do something to help you, which I could not do for my wife.’

Angelica sat down while he poured her some coffee and offered her a plate of sweet pastries. He sat beside her and seemed to be seeing her for the first time too. Her large green eyes had a clear sparkling candour as they met his. The sun burnished her hair with an aureole of light and he noticed the frivolous camellia and smiled. ‘I must say, Miss Leigh, you do look particularly well. Why, there’s even some colour in your cheek.’

They sat for a few minutes in easy silence drinking their coffee, when he turned again to her. ‘I hear from my daughter that a pirate father came to visit you?’

Angelica glanced at him, anxiety creasing her brow. ‘Indeed, I was very shocked as I thought he was dead.’

‘That must have been shocking indeed.’

‘And I was angry. Mrs Leigh and I lived in penury and fear for much of my early life.’

‘I am sorry to hear that. As you know, my work in Parliament is concerned with safeguarding children from exploitation. Sadly it thrives where there’s poverty and desperation.’

‘This is what I told Miss Elinor. That you were a far better papa than mine.’

He let out a gust of laughter that took Angelica by surprise. Usually so cool and controlled, this had obviously amused him and she saw a glimpse of the carefree spirit his nephew missed so much, and mourned. Still chuckling, he said, ‘I presume you were having to promote my virtues against the more evident attractions of a pirate?’

She too laughed. ‘Yes, indeed. But your daughter’s a clever, affectionate child and she immediately recognised how lucky she is.’

‘And how unlucky you are?’

Angelica dropped her eyes from his sympathetic but piercing gaze. ‘It is indeed difficult to accept I was lied to all those years when I would have been grateful for a father. That he did not care for us. But I suppose as a debtor in exile he could not risk returning?’