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At that moment, there was a giggle as Valentine grabbed James as he ran unsteadily into the room and swung him into the air. He carried the wriggling tot over towards his father. ‘Papa, here’s James, the young scamp I thought we could persuade Mrs Lovatt to let be your grandson. Don’t you think him the very image of Loo and me?’ His eyes twinkled as he looked from Sybella to the Duke. James did look remarkably like them both.

Sybella watched the Duke’s face lose its grandeur as he leant forward, smiling, to take her son’s hand. ‘Good afternoon, young James.’

‘Actorly, my name’s Jim,’ James said confidingly as his unattached hand ended up on the Duke’s satin-clad knee.

‘Oh, Papa, be careful! He looks like an angel, but he’s fallen from grace. He’s already ruined Ant Brabazon’s best buckskin breeches with his sticky fingers and suggested Freddie was either slightly foxed or dicked in the nob for falling out of a tree!’ They all laughed, and James looked rather pleased with the effect on the company of his experiments with new words.

‘No, no!’ Sybella interjected, smiling broadly. ‘He was just relating what George, the Manor’s factotum, had said.’

The Duke put James on his knee and addressed him seriously. ‘I think I agree with you, Master Jim. Lord Lynwood would have to be a veritable Merry-Andrew to climb a tree in his riding boots. No wonder he fell out!’

James turned his face to look at this grandfatherly figure and wrinkling his brow he asked seriously, ‘You ’ave any ’orses? Greys?’

‘I do. I have bays too and a matched four of shiny black horses.’

James nodded with satisfaction. ‘Mama has a black one, Scipio. Papa’s Cato, a grey. Mr B’s got greys.’ The Duke looked enquiringly at Sybella.

‘He can’t manage Mr Brabazon’s name.’

‘Ah, yes, I know Mr B’s matched greys, they’re considered the finest money can buy.’

‘Goin’ in his corricle.’

‘And he said you might hold the ribbons, didn’t he?’ Sybella was carefully fielding his hands to protect the Duke’s immaculate breeches.

Lord Ravenell laughed. ‘I didn’t know Ant was susceptible to young whipper-snappers. Come to think of it, I’ve never seen him in the company of such a young sprig.’ He ruffled James’s hair and continued, ‘I always considered him more likely to bat them away like gnats.’ He then carried the toddler off to Lucie, who was talking animatedly to her godmother by the fire.

The Duke turned to Sybella. ‘What a beautiful and charming son you have, Mrs Lovatt.’

She bowed her head with a smile. ‘As do you, your Grace.’

His face turned serious. ‘I know that your dear sister claimed to be betrothed to Valentine in an attempt to persuade the Bow Street constables they might have been mistaken, that he was not such an irregular as they thought. I think it certainly worked. But I would never expect her to continue with this if it is just an expedient alliance and she did not wish to marry my son.’

‘I am obliged to you for recognising the complications in the matter. I feel the same as you. But she seems to be happy so far with the situation. I fear, though, that she is not experienced enough to know what she is losing, and risking.’

‘It is refreshing, my dear Mrs Lovatt, to find a young woman of breeding and sensibility quite so wise and frank as you in the matter.’

‘I beg your pardon if I have spoken indelicately. But I am a countrywoman lacking the finer polish of the haut ton.’

‘Remain that way, my dear, please remain that way.’ The Duke took her hand and held it against his lips, his eyes closed with emotion. Then he straightened his shoulders and his old charming self was restored. He bowed in recognition.

They were interrupted by Lady Godley clapping her hands, her face beaming. ‘The youngsters have asked if we can have a celebratory dance.’ She sat down at her beautiful piano-forte and Lucie plonked James down on the seat beside her. She and Lord Ravenell then took to the centre of the drawing room floor as Freddie Lynwood approached Sybella to ask her to dance. She was so tired, but how could she refuse? She took his hand with a smile.

‘Oh, Godmama, please play “Admiral Warren’s Gallop”. What fun to dance!’ The Duke strolled over to stand behind Lady Godley and turn the music when required. James placed his small pudgy hands on the keys alongside Lady Godley’s beringed fingers and as she began energetically to play, James hammered out a haphazard improvisation.

The merry country dance rang out slightly discordantly while the young lords and their partners swung round the room, weaving in and out, twirling, swapping partners then coming together again. Everyone was laughing as their steps speeded up to match the music and the whirling continued until they collapsed giddily on the sofa.

Nurse looked in, horrified to see James still up, and unceremoniously whisked him off to bed. The Duke, noticing Sybella’s unfamiliar pallor, kissed Lady Godley’s hand and Lucie’s flushed cheek. He took Sybella’s hand in his. ‘I must collect my rascally son and take our leave of you and your sister and Lady Godley. Never doubt we are together in our concern for the ones we love.’ He kissed her hand and extracted his laughing son from the group of friends refreshing themselves with lemonade.

‘I feel like I’m on leading reins again.’ Valentine Ravenell cast Sybella a mischievous look as he put his arm affectionately round his father’s thin shoulders.

The party broke up amiably, but Lord Lynwood seemed reluctant to leave. ‘Would you like a game of piquet, Freddie?’ Lucie asked him pertly.

‘Just one. If Lady Godley is happy to chaperone us.’ The handsome young lord looked across at their hostess, who was putting away her music.

‘Oh, Godmama is always most obliging,’ Lucie said and slipped her hand through the older woman’s arm and kissed her on the cheek.

‘Begone with you! You’re an impertinent baggage! I can sit up for one game, but only that, mind.’ The flush on her cheek betrayed just how pleased Lady Godley was to be asked. She enjoyed immensely the company of these lively young people.