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said, ‘I’m sure they didn’t. Certainly my companion Lady Edenhope did not. But I’m afraid that I gave the game away by speaking your name so loudly.’
    She shrugged her shoulders and said surprisingly, ‘Oh, well, I dare say it does not matter too much now. Did you enjoy the concert?’
    ‘Yes, very much indeed. Especially the last symphony. I had not heard it before.’
    ‘Had you not?’ she asked. ‘I have once. I think it is my favourite of his works. The last movement—I wish it could go on for ever!’
    ‘That movement is particularly splendid,’ he agreed. ‘What is it that you like about it?’
    She thought carefully for a moment and then said, ‘It’s all the melodies, I think. You know, how he fits them all together, especially at the end in the coda, where they seem to be tumbling over one another. It makes me want to run and jump. It makes me forget…’ Again she stopped herself in mid sentence.
    ‘Forget?’ he asked curiously. ‘What can a child your age wish to forget?’
    ‘Oh, nothing really, my lord,’ she answered awkwardly. ‘I really should be going now.’ She turned to the maid. ‘Anna?’
    ‘The crowd is gone, miss. Just his lordship, and a lady seems to be waiting for him,’ was the reply.
    Darleston was very puzzled by now. Wishing to prolong the encounter, he asked, ‘May Lady Edenhope and I escort you home, Miss Ffolliot? I assure you it would be no trouble.’
    She shook her head firmly. ‘Thank you, my lord, but the carriage will be waiting for me.’
    Sensing that she would really prefer to be alone, Darleston did not press her, but said, ‘Then I had better return to Lady Edenhope! Goodnight, Miss Ffolliot, it was delightful to run across you again so unexpectedly. Please convey my regards to your parents, and of course to your dog!’
    ‘Oh, Gelert!’ She choked on a giggle. ‘Not even I would dare try to bring him to a concert! Goodnight, my lord! If I had to lose my wager, I’m glad it was to you!’
    ‘You are very gallant, Miss Ffolliot! Goodnight!’ Darleston returned to Lady Edenhope, who was looking distinctly amused.
    ‘Well, you have stirred up the gossips! Was it really Miss Ffolliot?’ she asked as they went out into Hanover Square.
    Before Darleston could answer, a bluff, hearty voice was heard from a carriage. ‘Hello Darleston. Was that Miss Ffolliot? Charming lass! Good for you, boy!’
    Darleston blinked into the amiable countenance of old Lord Warboys, who tipped him a knowing winkand continued to his coachman, ‘Well, drive on, man! Drive on! Catch me death of cold!’ The carriage clattered off, leaving Lord Darleston staring.
    Several more encounters of a similar nature served to finish the job begun by Lord Warboys’ example of well-meant but tactless jocularity. By the time Darleston had escorted Lady Edenhope back to Half Moon Street he had quite made up his mind to end all the gossip and speculation at least temporarily.
     
    Five days later Lady Caroline Daventry left London for Paris. Three days after that Lord Darleston was reliably reported to be on his way to Dover to catch the next packet. Society shrugged its collective shoulders and forgot all about the momentary excitement raised by Darleston’s supposed pursuit of the lovely Miss Ffolliot and invented other gossip for its amusement.
    Lord Carrington, returning to town, shook his head at George Carstares and said, ‘It will be the same next season! If only the silly fool doesn’t take it into his head to marry Caroline Daventry!’
    George looked up, shocked, from his copy of the Gazette. ‘Don’t think he’s that taken with her, do you?’
    Carrington looked cynical and said, ‘I’d be prepared to lay odds that’s what she’s after! As for Peter, he seems to think that all women are much the same as each other. In that mood, there’s no saying what he might do!’
    ‘Good God!’ said George, staring in disbelief at the Gazette.
    ‘What’s that?’ asked