“No, Mama, I am here,” he replied wearily.
“Good. I want you to come and meet our guest!”
“But, Mama – ”
His pleas fell on deaf ears. His mother could be a force of nature in moments like these, sweeping all before her. She had also, understandably, been buoyed up by the prospect of her eldest son changing his ways.
“Come into the drawing room. Lady Waterton is just settling down after her journey. She is most anxious to see you!”
He realised that the sooner he dispensed with the formal greetings, the sooner he could return to his desk so he duly followed his mother to the drawing room.
There was, as he walked, the unmistakeable whiff of French perfume pervading the air. It was quite daringly strong for a lady, but then, had not this woman spent a lot of time on the Continent?
As he
