The Viscount had cut it so fine that, as he came down the stairs with his crisp white cravat tied meticulously and his long-tailed evening coat fitting over his shoulders in a manner that could only have been achieved by Weston of Bond Street, he saw Lord Alvanley followed by Lord Worcester and Sir Stafford Lumley walking into the hall.
He greeted them effusively and led them into the drawing room to find to his annoyance that Freddy was already there having reached his lodgings in Half Moon Street, changed and returned in shorter time than he had managed without the journey.
There was no sign of Jemima and, when four more guests arrived, he was wondering whether he should ask a servant to fetch her when his valet came to his side to say in a low voice,
“Her Ladyship’s compliments, my L
