“These things have crossed my mind,” Lord Melburne replied.
Lady Romayne spooned the tea into the teapot and poured the boiling water into it from a silver water jug.
“I am really quite hungry,” she said, reaching out her hand for a tiny sponge cake that looked so light that a puff of wind might have blown it away.
“Do you realise, Buck,” she continued, “if you do not return tomorrow, you will miss Prinny’s party at Carlton House and that will annoy him because he is exceeding fond of you, as you well know.”
“Is he giving another of those overheated crushes?” Lord Melburne asked in his most uncompromising voice.
“Yes indeed. And he has some new pictures to show us. He will be most piqued if you are not there.”
Lord Melburne walked to the window looking out towards the lake. The sun h
