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‘No, not at all. He wanted to be close enough to his clubs in St James’s so he could make it home even in his altitudes, and with all his fuddled cronies in tow.’ A faint shudder shook her thin frame.

Lady Godley banished these less happy memories with a brusque shrug and patted the sofa beside her. ‘Come, mes poussins, tell me, did you make any more acquaintances on your walk we can ask to my little soirée?’

‘I think there’ll be one we can strike off, the self-important Mr Brabazon,’ Sybella said, to everyone’s surprise.

‘Oh, no, my dear. We don’t look a gift horse like him in the mouth! We will be fortunate indeed if he decides to come. He’s a man of consequence despite his other less favourable traits. Friends with Alvanley, Lady Sefton, oh so many, even the great Beau himself.’

‘But Mr Brabazon is so odious and high-handed in manner.’

‘Surely not, Bella, I think he’s perfectly polite,’ said Lucie. ‘And Lord Lynwood, who knows him better than us, thinks he’s quite the thing.’

‘If that’s the case, his lordship is perhaps more jingle-brained than I knew!’

Lady Godley snapped her journal shut. ‘Now, now, both of you! I’m inviting Mr Brabazon regardless of your feelings, Bella, and I would be grateful if you remember your manners when you meet him. Our whole purpose is to settle Lucie successfully. I will do what needs to be done, as I’m sure you will too.’

‘I apologise, Augusta. You’re right.’ This was the second time in the day that Sybella had been scolded and she did not like the feeling. She pulled Lord Rockliffe’s card out of her reticule. ‘We did meet another gentleman this afternoon.’

‘But Bella, you can’t mean Lord Rockliffe! Mr Brabazon and Lord Lynwood think him a shockingly loose fish.’

Lady Godley’s hands flew to her face. ‘Lucie! Where did you hear that low term? Don’t use it in polite company, my dear. It is not becoming for a young woman to know any of the cant used by gentlemen and thieves, and it’s shockingly vulgar for her to actually use these words herself.’

‘Sorry, Godmama, it’s how Lord Lynwood described him. And Mr Brabazon said he was not to be trusted.’

Sybella bridled. ‘Well, I for one am disinclined to credit Mr Brabazon’s moral judgement on anyone or anything. He seems far too opinionated about everyone else’s lives and conduct but his own. I’d be happy to see Lord Rockliffe at your party, if you agree, Augusta.’

‘Lord Rockliffe is an earl, my dears. Wealth and title, I’m afraid, rub out most indiscretions.’ Lady Godley gazed out of the window, lost for a moment in thought. ‘Like many women, I am very partial to a reformed rake,’ she sighed. ‘But I fear Lord Rockliffe is beyond mend.’

‘What do you mean, Godmama? Surely no one is beyond redemption?’

Lady Godley’s face had lost its liveliness. ‘Oliver Rockliffe was a shockingly wild young man. He inherited his father’s title and fortune when he was barely breeched. It ruined him, I’m afraid. By the time he’d left Eton, he was already flying a kite over his gaming debts. And had started frequenting les belles de nuit.’

‘Oh, Godmama! Now you’re being indelicate! Saying it in French doesn’t make it any less so.’ The sisters laughed.

But Lady Godley was caught up in the story and would not be deflected. ‘Un moment mes enfants, this is a salutary tale. The turning point came for Rockliffe when he killed a man in a duel. Over a woman, someone else’s wife, I think. The on-dits was fevered, as you can imagine.’

‘How terrible! Did he have to escape into exile?’

‘Yes, to France. And that’s where he sank further into débauche et libertinage.’

Sybella’s kind heart found it hard to see the world in quite such uncompromising shades. ‘Well, the Earl was kind to James. Not many men are willing to put themselves out for a child.’

Lady Godley nodded. ‘He’s not all bad, ’tis true. Just dyed-in-the-wool cynical, admiring nothing, contemptuous of everything. Such people can be dangerous to others.’

‘Godmama, you have a taste for Covent Garden theatricals!’

‘No, not at all. I’m happy to invite him. He’s high-born and has some fortune left, no doubt, so he will do. But not as a husband for either of you!’ She looked admonishingly at the startled faces before her. ‘There’s something else,’ she added. ‘Some long-nurtured ill-feeling exists between Rockliffe and Brabazon. No one knows from where it first sprang. But they’re both still gentlemen, and I’m sure will sauver les apparences.’

‘Godmama, you are irrepressible! I thought you were independent-minded and didn’t care for the proprieties.’

‘Now, my dears, stop your ribbing. I’ve been too long in this world for much to put me to the blush! I know my French and can prose in Latin so I’m afraid my speech is a gallimaufry. You’ll just have to get used to it. And as for the proprieties, I don’t mind for myself, but I am very careful about your reputations. Especially yours, Lucie.’ She looked sternly at her goddaughter. Then briskly turned and opened her journal. ‘So let’s turn our minds to entertainment. Gentlemen of the ton find such soirées dull unless we offer card tables, which I don’t intend to do. But I think a little light supper will be in order. My cook can provide her much-admired seafood coquilles and I’ll order Gunter’s best savoury and sweet pastries, sugar plums and custard tarts. Let’s bring the vintage champagne up from the cellar. I can’t think of a better occasion to broach Pomeroy’s supplies. What do you think?’

‘You are very generous, Augusta. We’ll help with any preparations, the flower arrangements or decorations?’

‘La! Why do you think I have servants? You’re not in the country now. It’s not the thing for a young woman to spend her time doing anything other than practising her accomplishments and socialising in the correct way with the right people. Certainly no menial work, like decorating the house, however much you may enjoy it. All that’s required of you is to look beautiful, conduct yourself with charm and grace and entertain the assembled guests with your music-making.’

Lucie’s face fell. ‘Oh, Godmama, I thought you might suggest that.’

‘You do play the piano-forte and sing, don’t you?’ An edge of exasperation had crept into Lady Godley’s voice.