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Haryo shook her head. ‘Not until a couple of days ago when Granville felt compelled to be honest with me. We have told Hart and Gee and were trying to work out how to tell you. We decided that perhaps we could broach it on your birthday, as it seemed somehow appropriate. Nineteen years ago today, you came into the world. I think it’s time that you know who you are.’

‘Lord Granville knew?’

Haryo nodded with an impish smile. ‘He’s ancient. He was in Italy at the time when Mama, Lady Liz, and Aunt Bess were there. Just after the Grey family took you back to England. That’s where he met Aunt Bess.’

‘Why did he tell you now?’

Haryo’s eyes sparkled.

‘He wanted to ask me to marry him, but he had secrets he felt he must share. This was one of them.’

‘Oh, Haryo. Are you not devastated?’

Haryo squeezed her hand. ‘We just need to disentangle all this, and we can all go on being happy.’

Eliza’s head was racing. This was not at all what she had expected. ‘Are… are you not worried that this might get out? That it will ruin you all? Lord Somersby threatened to tell if I didn’t marry him.’

Harriet’s eyes widened. ‘Oh, did he now? We shall have something to say about that. But even if he told the whole of London, it would not ruin us. The Cavendish reputation for scandal is second to none. It would barely cause a ripple. No-one would care, and anyone who did would simply be removed from our orbit. To be honest, the family has weathered so many scandals, many of which involved our mama, the fact that it still survives is testament to our complete and utter disregard for what anyone thinks.’

‘Goodness,’ Eliza said on a wobbly laugh as she put a hand to her throbbing head.

‘Darling, we have been the very best of friends this season, and now I discover that my very best of friends is my sister. Why would I be unhappy? You are a Cavendish, my love. Welcome home.’

Harriet held her close as she wept some more. She was dabbing her eyes with her handkerchief when the door opened and Hart peeped around.

‘May I come in?’

Haryo nodded, and Hart strode over to her and scooped her up in a hug. ‘Well, who would have thought it? No wonder we got on well,’ he said.

Eliza managed a watery laugh.

‘I imagine it’s all been a bit of a shock.’

Haryo cut over Hart. ‘Eliza already knew when she arrived. The Earl told her.’

Hart’s eyebrows lifted. ‘And how do you feel?’

Eliza shrugged helplessly. ‘I came here to apologise and then return to Northumberland so that everyone would forget me and make sure no whisper of scandal touched you all.’

‘Oh, Eliza. Surely you know by now, we are impervious to scandal.’

Haryo nodded, and Eliza had to believe that they really did not care about any scandal. That they were… pleased at gaining a new sister. Her heart started thumping in a way that made her tremble again, but in a completely different way.

Hart gasped and put a hand to his mouth. ‘It’s a good thing we didn’t decide to marry.’

Haryo laughed, and Eliza put her face in her hands.

‘Sorry, sorry, that was awful.’ He pulled her back into a hug. When she emerged, she was shaking all over. This had not been the disaster she thought it might be. But then, when did Haryo and Hart do what was expected of them?

She was just finding her feet when the door opened and the footman announced Lieutenant Colonel Robert Ellice.

Chapter 62

ELIZA

London

Eliza was rooted to the spot. She couldn’t move; couldn’t breathe. Everyone else in the room ceased to exist.