When he came back from Bond Street with a very expensive but exquisitely designed piece of jewellery for Ileni, he wrote her a note which he knew would make it clear what the present meant.
It was now waiting to be delivered to Ileni at her house in Park Street at three o’clock when, as she had told the Earl, her husband would be in the House of Commons.
“Is everything ready?” he asked the butler after handing him the package.
“The phaeton should be round in five minutes, my Lord.”
“That will just give me time to change.”
The Earl went upstairs to find Yates waiting for him with a more comfortable driving coat than the one he had worn in Bond Street.
“Are you changing your Hessians, my Lord?” Yates enquired.
The Earl hesitated as to whether he should put on a pair of the new boots w
