59. The Season grinds on

From being at a loose-end before my visit to Sir George, the situation changed, and the next few weeks were busy. The days were full - letters to and from Henry about the estate and his and Caroline's wedding; meetings with Mr Langton and the lawyers acting on behalf of Hermione, further meetings with Mr Langton about the upcoming court case against Sir Montague Fellowes. I even travelled to Rogeringham Hall to meet with Sir Arthur and Sir William Blunt about taking up the role of Justice of the Peace.

Sometimes, when I had rushed back to Mayfair from Buckinghamshire, I had to change immediately to venture out for an occasion such as a ball, a dinner or a concert. And then the next day there would be a picnic or a garden party or even just being seen walking in a park. The one who appeared to enjoy this time most of all was Naiad, the mare, who despite the long, and often hurried, days on the road always seemed to be ready to go on and do it all again.

Evenings, when I was at home were dinners, the theatre, recitals and balls, and all of the pleasures of the Season. Glittering parties, orchestras, food, drink, conversations with gentlemen of society and some quite predatory women.

At one ball, at the home of Lord and Lady Cumberbatch, I narrowly avoided what appeared to be a trap laid for me in the Cumberbatch's rose garden. It transpired that a very pretty young lady - the Honourable Geraldine Pennywise had been set to wait for me by her mother, and at the appropriate moment she would be found in my company un-chaperoned, I would be embarrassed and dishonoured, unless I took Geraldine to wife. Oh woe! Oh! Woe!

By chance I was escorting Helena through that very rose-garden, admiring some of their magnificent blooms, when we encountered young Miss Pennywise. (The fact that the twins had overheard the plan had nothing to do with it, honestly) To cut a long story short, Helena took on the role of chaperone, chatting with the young lady, who was, to be honest, quite attractive and charming, and together we ensured that no one was able to take advantage of her. Geraldine was totally enamoured of Helena, as so many young ladies appear to be, and kept returning to her company throughout the evening, before we surrendered her to her mother, and Helena left Lady Pennywise with the message that she would need to try much harder and get up far earlier to succeed with such tactics.

And that was not an uncommon occurrence, such was the drive to get this year's crop of young ladies married off to the best advantage.

I could have written much, much more about the events of the Season, but to be truthful most of them were the same event - except that they were held in a different place upon a different date. Occasionally there were occasions that stood out - a masked ball, or a picnic which took place upon the Serpentine with everybody cruising upon the lake in small boats, complete with watermen to move them about. But events like that were the exception, rather than the rule and I have tried to spare the reader from having to endure such glittering tedium.

Added to this was the intricate dance of 'the courtship that was not', between Arabella and myself. We managed it by creating "moments" - me assisting her up or down a step, handing her a drink of punch, sometimes we would be passing each other and have a 'chance' encounter, and I would bow and she would curtsey. And each and every encounter would be reported in the 'society pages' the next morning.

And very nearly every night, Helena and I would sleep together, making passionate love at first, then unless one of us was very tired, we would rise for a short time, share a pipe and a glass of wine or a tot of rum, before retiring to bed and sleeping until Barclay woke us.

My mother's passion was everything I had hoped it would be, and sleeping with her every night was all of my dreams fulfilled.