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A tap on the door brought Hannah into the room. ‘There you are,’ her sister said briskly.

‘Indeed I am. Was there something you needed?’

‘Do I need a reason to come and speak to my sister?’ Hannah pulled up a chair and sat opposite Eliza by the window.

She refrained from saying they rarely spent time together in a comfortable coze, so she just smiled.

Hannah sighed and looked up. ‘I apologise for my behaviour on the way back from Chiswick,’ she said. ‘I was unnecessarily sharp and I regret that.’

‘Thank you,’ Eliza murmured, quite taken aback.

‘You have been rather flung into this, and I can see you are being pulled this way and that. Mama is still very cross, too.’

‘She is. I don’t think she will ever speak to me or look at me kindly again.’

Hannah reached out and patted her hand. ‘She will, when you have a fabulous season and make a splendid match.’

‘And if I don’t?’

Hannah regarded her with sympathy. ‘She will still love you. She means well.’

‘She keeps telling me I must take great care. That I must be on the lookout for ne’er-do-wells with pockets to let.’

‘And second sons with no money.’

At that, she looked up. ‘Second sons too. My word.’

‘Well, you have a marquess dangling after you, so a second son with pockets to let will hardly be someone you look at.’

Eliza laughed. ‘When you say it like that…’

‘Is there anything in the rumours about you and Hartington?’

‘No, not really. We are friends. I remember him from when we played with the Cavendish children, and we get on well.’

Eliza felt they needed a change of subject. ‘Tell me, have you seen any more of Mr Ellice? Heard any more tales of his bears?’

Hannah smiled. ‘I have met him a few times. I confess I am heartened to discover that he does talk of more than bears. He is most interesting.’

Eliza laughed. ‘I’m pleased to hear it.’ She looked at her sister. ‘Do you like him?’ she said, gently.

Hannah quickly looked away. It shocked Eliza to see tears in her eyes.

‘Hannah?’

She shook her head and took out a handkerchief. ‘Ignore me,’ she said. ‘I’m being silly.’

‘Of course you are not being silly. What is it?’

‘It’s just that… It’s… well…’ Her chin quirked, she put a hand to her eyes, and to Eliza’s stunned horror, she wept.

Eliza rose from her chair immediately and put an arm about her shoulders. ‘Come.’ She guided her gently to the sofa where they could sit together. She gathered her sister into her arms and held her. To her surprise, Hannah let her.

She stroked her back as Hannah’s head lay on her shoulder.

‘George?’ Eliza whispered, and Hannah nodded.

Eliza continued to hold her, a few moments later, she hiccupped. ‘I just remember my season when I met him. When we danced together. Fell in love. We were so happy. So hopeful.’