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nerves. They had only arrived here when Sir Norman’sgreat-aunt had died and he had finally come into his in heritance. ‘The elder Miss Sarsfield plays the spinet beautifully.’
    â€˜True, true, but I thought her Chopin was a bit sharp last week. It laid waste to poor Mama’s eardrums.’ Miss Bolt tapped a finger against her mouth. ‘There again, you were absent, weren’t you?’
    â€˜Unavoidable. One of the servants had come down with a chill.’ Diana forced her lungs to fill with air. The excuse was thread bare, but she had discovered it was far easier to keep to her rules if she avoided entertainment wherever possible. ‘It sounded pleasant enough to me when I heard the dress rehearsal.’
    â€˜Dear Miss Clare, if you could but hear what passes for music in the great drawing rooms of London…’
    â€˜I have been to London, Miss Bolt.’ Diana held back a stinging retort. A lady must be polite, but Miranda really was in sup portable. ‘I even managed to attend several musicale evenings there when I had my Season.’
    â€˜The London Season. I have tried and tried to convince Mama of the necessity of a London Season. A proper one, with vouchers to Almack’s.’ Miss Bolt put her hand to her mouth. ‘My dear Miss Clare, I nearly forgot how trying the mention of London and the Season must be to you. Mama has warned me and warned me, but my tongue goes flippety-flop.’
    â€˜Why should the mention of London be trying?’
    â€˜You know the disaster. ’ Miss Bolt lowered her voice and her blue eyes shimmered as she put a hand briefly on Diana’s elbow, a show of false concern. ‘Every time I think about it I want to weep. Mama remarked on it the other day and how it should be a lesson for me, a lesson I intend to take to my heart. Dear, dear Miss Clare, when I go to London, I shall be a success. I will not be a wall flower.’
    â€˜I wish you every opportunity.’
    â€˜And I will take every single one, I can assure you of that. I am meant for a viscount or an earl at the very least. It is too bad that the royal dukes are so very old.’ Miss Bolt gave her curls a little pat. ‘With my looks, breeding and Papa’s fortune, a title should be within my grasp.’
    â€˜One should always aim for the attainable.’
    â€˜How very witty of you. The attainable, not the un attainable. I will remember that. I collect witticisms so that I can repeat them to my friends.’ Miranda Bolt gave another trill of laughter. ‘There again, did you?’
    â€˜Did I what?’ Diana stared at Miranda Bolt. Was Miss Bolt entirely without reason this morning? The young woman seemed intent on ignoring all of Diana’s attempts to end the conversation.
    â€˜Aim for the attainable,’ Miranda Bolt replied with maddening complacency. ‘Is that why it was a disaster?’
    â€˜My situation hardly compares to yours.’ Diana gritted her teeth. ‘I returned to Northumberland for family reasons.’
    â€˜It must be so hard getting old.’ Miss Bolt tilted her head to one side and gave her parasol a twirl. ‘Every broken sleep shows. Mama told me. It is why I take such care with my complexion.’
    Diana counted very slowly to ten. Passionate emotion was the enemy of reason, but the thought of Lady Bolt and her odious daughter pitying her after all these years was in sup portable. ‘I believe your mother will be looking for you.’
    â€˜Mama is always searching for me. It is part of our little game.’ Miss Bolt gave a gasp and a tremulous giggle as she lifted her reticule. ‘Is that…? Can it be Lord Coltonby’s carriage?’
    Diana felt a prick ling at the back of her neck and turnedto see a smart yellow curricle. A tiger held the heads of two sleek bay horses. The lines of the horse pro claimed speed and the need for a firm hand on the ribbons. ‘It may