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more than a flash of respect to change his
mind.
    There was no
time for anything further, however. The dance was drawing to its close. The
last chords sounded and she turned to Joshua and dropped him a curtsey.
    He made her a
bow and then, offering her his arm, he escorted her to the side of the room.
Hetty was waiting for them. The three of them enjoyed a little light
conversation before Joshua made his excuses and left their side.
    ‘My, you made
a handsome couple,’ said Hetty, unfolding her fan and wafting it in front of
her face to create a cooling breeze. ‘It’s such a pity that Joshua is too young
to marry.’ She gave a sigh. ‘He has too much drive and ambition to settle down.
Perhaps, when he is older, and needs to set up his nursery . . . But never
mind, there are plenty of eligible bachelors here tonight. Oh, look, here is
Lord Henderton.’ She caught sight of Rebecca’s humorous expression and said
ruefully, ‘I know you don’t like me to play the part of the matchmaker,
Rebecca, but I would so like to see you settled.’
    ‘I promise you
that if I ever fall in love I will be happy to marry,’ she said. ‘But not
until.’
    ‘Well, I can
ask for no more than that,’ said Hetty. She turned towards the young nobleman. ‘Ah!
Lord Henderton! How lovely to see you. I don’t believe you know my niece.’
    Lord Henderton
professed himself eager to rectify that sad state of affairs, and before long
Rebecca found him leading her out onto the floor. Lord Henderton turned out to
be a good dancer and an agreeable companion, and she enjoyed the cotillion they
danced together.
    Hetty nobly
refrained from asking her how she had found Lord Henderton when the dance came
to an end, but Rebecca took pity on her, telling her that she had found him
most agreeable.
    ‘And there are
a number of other young gentlemen here tonight who are equally agreeable,’ said
Hetty, eager to promote Rebecca’s happiness. ‘You must let me introduce you to
Mr Porter.’ She wafted her fan in the direction of the gentleman in question. ‘He
comes from a very good family, and his mother and I are old friends.’
    Rebecca
allowed Hetty to make the introduction, and then accepted Mr Porter’s hand for
the next dance. Like Lord Henderton, he was a pleasant and agreeable companion,
but he was looking for a meek and biddable wife. Besides, his closeness did not
make her skin tingle . . .
    After Mr
Porter, Rebecca danced with a succession of pleasant and agreeable young men.
    It was whilst
she was dancing with Mr Yunge, however, that she became aware of another
gentleman watching her with a puzzled expression. As soon as the dance ended he
accosted her, saying, ‘Haven’t we met somewhere before?’
    Rebecca took
in his bland, slack-featured face and shook her head. ‘I don’t believe so.’
Then, remembering that Joshua had been reminded of her grandfather on first
meeting her, she said, ‘Perhaps you knew my grandfather, Jebadiah Marsden.
There is a family resemblance, I believe.’
    He shook his
head. ‘No, I never knew Jebadiah Marsden.’ He regarded her closely. ‘It was
somewhere recently that I saw you, I am certain. You have been in London for the winter?’
    ‘No. I have
only just arrived.’
    ‘And you are
sure we have never met?’ he asked curiously.
    ‘Positive.’
Rebecca was firm.
    He gave a
sigh. ‘I could have sworn . . . oh, well I dare say it will come back to me.’
    Rebecca
murmured a polite nothing and returned to Hetty’s side.
    ‘I am glad you
are getting to know some of the gentlemen here,’ said Hetty, rather anxiously, ‘but
if I can just give you a word of warning, Rebecca. The gentleman you were
talking to just now - the slack-featured gentleman, George Lacy - he is not
quite the thing.’
    ‘Don’t worry
aunt,’ teased Rebecca. ‘I promise not to form a tendre for him!’
    To Rebecca’s
surprise, Hetty did not smile at her sally.
    ‘That isn’t
what I mean,’ said Hetty, shaking her