‘Glad you’re here, Reggie.’
‘Glad to see from your smoking jacket that we’re dining at home. Not only is it much more private than our clubs, the food is better. You have the best chef in London.’
‘If you’ll excuse me, Papa, I will go and speak to Bloom. And, by the way, you will be having roast leg of lamb for supper.’
Sebastian’s eyes followed her as she glided across the room, thinking how well she had turned out. What a lovely young woman she had become!
At the doorway, she said, ‘Oh, Uncle Reginald, Marietta and Lavinia wish to greet you later on.’
Lord Reginald smiled at her. ‘It will be my pleasure, my dear.’
Once they were alone, Sebastian sat down and Reginald followed suit. He reached into his pocket, took out a gold cigarette case, and opened it.
‘Oh, do you want to smoke, Sebastian?’ He offered the case.
‘No, thank you anyway. What I do want is for you to open up to me. What is troubling you?’
After lighting a cigarette, taking a puff, Reginald said, ‘I wanted to discuss some business – and we will. But it’s Jasmine. She has not been feeling well, and has developed a nasty cough. Jane took her to see Dr Stoppard, who says she has to stop wearing very tight corsets.’
Frowning, focusing on his friend, Sebastian asked, ‘Wearing corsets is making her ill? But every woman wears corsets. And seemingly the tighter they can make them with the lacing up, the better. Or so I’m given to understand.’
‘That tight lacing is the root of the problem!’ Reginald exclaimed. ‘It is compressing her ribcage, which has become smaller and smaller, and apparently that’s not healthy.’
‘What treatment does the doctor suggest?’
‘Jasmine has to stop wearing corsets, or rather, tightly laced corsets. And that’s where the problem is. Jasmine wants to have a tiny waist like the other debutantes – the tinier the better, apparently.’
‘I’m sorry about Jasmine’s health issue, Reggie, but surely her mother can make her see sense?’
‘She’s trying to, but these girls …’ Reginald broke off, shaking his head. ‘They are so competitive with each other, it’s unbelievable.’
‘Can I help in any way? Actually, I don’t see how I could.’
‘I believe Claudia may be the one person Jasmine will pay attention to, and I was hoping you would ask her to come and call on us. Sometime next week. Perhaps she could help our daughter.’
‘I shall do that. I must also talk to Claudia myself about this tight-lacing problem. I don’t think Claudia approves of it, now that I’m discussing the matter with you. I vaguely remember her chastising Lavinia and Marietta about it a few weeks ago.’
‘Thank you, Sebastian, I really appreciate your help, and if anyone can talk sense into Jasmine, I believe it will be Claudia.’
‘We are like brothers, you and I, Reggie,’ Sebastian suddenly said. ‘Just imagine, we were boys at Eton together, then at King’s College, Cambridge. We’ve spent our lives in each other’s pockets, and we’ve never had a cross word.’
‘An extraordinary friendship, yes, indeed we’ve had that.’ He puffed on the cigarette and, changing the subject, he went on, ‘I had a meeting today with George Havermill. He wants to buy my newspapers. Offered a very good price. What do you think?’
‘Consider it, if you really do want to sell. Or start something new. Maybe I should take a look at the deal he’s offered you.’
‘I’d like your advice.’
‘And I would like yours.’
‘What about?’
‘A woman.’
It was obvious from his expression that Reginald was taken aback. ‘What kind of woman?’
‘I’m not sure I know how to answer that, Reggie.’
‘Well, what I mean is, are you interested in a woman with whom to have a friendship, one of those lovely ladies who accompany you to events? Or are you speaking about a woman with whom you wish to be … well … intimate?
‘Neither.’
‘Oh, I see,’ Reginald began, and stopped abruptly when Bloom came in carrying a silver tray, followed by a footman with a silver bucket containing a bottle of Dom Pérignon.
Once the champagne had been poured into crystal flutes, and the caviar passed to the two men, the butler and the footman took their leave.
After clinking glasses, Reginald said, ‘Do you realize you’ve never discussed women with me since we were very young men – fifteen, or thereabouts? So naturally I’m a bit surprised. Who is she?’
‘A woman I met today. This afternoon, and very briefly. I must see her again.’
‘And you knew at once?’ Reginald asked, his surprise obvious in his tone of voice.
‘I did. It was the most extraordinary thing. I was instantly struck by her looks, bowled over really. So much so, that even Claudia noticed and was taken aback.’
‘She was with you at the time?’
‘Yes. She had been at a ladies’ tea with some other women, at Delia’s. A meeting to do with a charity they are involved with. I went to fetch her, so she could accompany me to my sister’s house, and the woman was with Claudia when they left.’
‘And what did Claudia say to you?’
‘She didn’t say anything until much later, after we had left my sister’s, when she mentioned that I’d had a strong reaction to her companion. She asked me why.’
‘And you told her what?’
‘That I wasn’t sure. But I’d had a rush of feelings: excitement, a sense of need, perhaps desire. Claudia told me I had appeared to be mesmerized.’
‘Mesmerized. That’s a strong word, old chap.’
‘I said I’d felt blinded, conscious only of her. Anyway, she’s in my head, Reggie, and I can’t wait to see her again. Only then will I understand myself, my reaction to her.’
‘She must be quite a stunner to affect you in this way. I know it’s not happened to you before. You would have told me, wouldn’t you?’ Reginald raised a brow quizzically.
‘Of course.’ Sebastian took a sip of champagne. ‘I’ve never had any secrets from you.’
‘So who is this woman who has you so rattled? What’s her name?’
‘Alexis. Alexis Malvern.’
Reginald gaped at him, stunned into silence. After a split second, he exclaimed, ‘There can’t be two women with that name. You must be referring to Henry Malvern’s daughter, aren’t you?’
‘I am indeed. Do you know him?’
‘He’s a member of one of our clubs, Savile’s. And we chat occasionally, but I can’t say I know him well. He’s a powerful man, very wealthy, and all of his businesses are extremely successful.’ Reginald chuckled. ‘It is well known that his daughter is his only child and heir. She works in his business, but then I’m sure you know that.’
‘I had heard of her, and her business acumen. However, she is also extremely beautiful. And she is a mere twenty-five.’ Sebastian grimaced. ‘Too young for me, I think.’
‘No, not at all. You’re only forty. I would certainly like to meet her.’
‘Glad to hear that, Reggie. Claudia is planning to give a small supper here next week. We hoped you and Jane would accept our