Page was a stout man with a fleshly neck and heavy cheeks that were ruddy and had a misleadingly cheerful red hue. His cold dark eyes revealed his true nature, that of a pitiless individual dedicated to amassing as large a personal fortune as possible from the commissions he drew from the income of his landed clients. He rose ponderously from his chair and ostentatiously drew a heavy gold pocket watch from his fob, and raised his thick eyebrows. Arthur ignored the gesture and got straight down to business.

'My brother Richard has written to me from London to request that you realise his assets here in Ireland as soon as possible.'

Page sat up in surprise. 'Sell everything, my lord?'

'Everything. Starting with the house in Merrion Street. Then the Kildare estates, and finally, Dangan.'

Page frowned thoughtfully for an instant before he responded. 'The first two shouldn't present too much of a problem. Prices in Dublin have been steadily improving since the establishment of the parliament. However, since the trouble in France, there is a perception that Irish property is no longer the safe investment it once was. Not that anything will come of these unnatural French notions of egalitarianism, but there is a fear amongst property speculators that the Irish might revolt, and perception is everything in the property market, sir. If we sell now, the Merrion Street house should fetch a good price. The Kildare estates likewise. Dangan is the problem. It is, as you must realise yourself, not in saleable condition at present. The castle will require considerable work on it to achieve a good market price. I take it you wish to authorise me to act on your behalf in such remedial expenses?'

'Of course, as long as the costs are contained.'

'I'll do my best, sir.' He smiled at Arthur, and there was a moment of silence before Page coughed and continued politely, 'Is there anything else?'

'Well, yes,' Arthur began awkwardly. 'You see, the thing is that I'm somewhat financially embarrassed myself at the moment and-'

'How much do you require, sir?'

'How much?'

'I assume you wish me to extend your line of credit?'

'If it's not too much trouble.'

'None at all, sir. I have, in my time, been of similar service to many young gentlemen like yourself.'

Arthur was sure he had. It was a fine way to maintain clients from one generation to the next. Arthur raised his eyes as if making a quick mental calculation.'Let me see. A trifling amount, say forty guineas.'

Page nodded, and reached down to a drawer behind his desk. There was a rattle of a key and then Arthur heard the dull chink of the agent's hand reaching into a large pile of coins. Page glanced at him. 'Forty, you say?'

Arthur nodded and Page counted out the coins, in four neat piles on the desk. He pulled out a small ledger, flicked through the pages until he came to Arthur's entry and then dipped his quill and made a note. 'There we are, sir. On the same terms as the existing sum.'

'Thank you, Page.That's damn good of you.' Arthur placed the coins in his purse and rose to leave. 'I'm sure I am imposing on your valuable time.'

The agent opened his hands out and shrugged modestly. 'A pleasure, as always, sir. I'll see to that business of your brother's at once.'

As soon as he had quit the agent's offices Arthur made his way back to the shoemaker on Connaught Street and paid the balance on the riding boots. Uncomfortable as they were, he looked at them fondly. After all, it was thanks to these boots that he had at last been able to make some ground in his pursuit of Kitty Pakenham.

The house on Russell Square was easy enough to find. The Pakenham residence was one of the more imposing and elegant houses that faced on to the square. Arthur glanced over himself to make sure that his appearance was as neat as possible. He had chosen to wear his best uniform and one of the officers' servants at the castle had spent most of the morning polishing his boots into a glassy shine. The door opened almost as soon as Arthur knocked and a sombrely dressed footman stood aside to let him in.

'Good God! That was quick.'

'You are expected, sir. Miss Pakenham had me wait by the door.Your coat, sir?'

Once the footman had carefully hung Arthur's greatcoat he led him through to the drawing room. Kitty was sitting in a comfortable armchair close to the window, pretending to read. She glanced up as her guest entered the room, and smiled warmly.

'Hello, Arthur. Or are you still my husband, the Honourable Miles Simpson?'

'I don't know. That's for you to decide.'

Kitty cocked her head on one side and appraised the young officer standing in front of her. 'I think I like you best as you are. So shall we be Kitty and Arthur, for now?'

'I should like that, very much.'

'Good. Come and have a seat, Arthur.' She waved her hand to a matching armchair on the other side of the window, and turned towards the footman. 'We'll have tea and cakes, Malley.'

'Very good, ma'am.'The footman bowed his head and ducked gracefully out of the room. As soon as he was gone Kitty looked at Arthur and lowered her voice. 'He'll go straight to my brother Tom to let him know that you have arrived. I'm afraid my brother is trying rather too hard to be old-fashioned and respectable and will insist on acting as my chaperone while you are in the house.'

'There's no one else coming to tea?'

Kitty grinned mischievously. 'Now why would I possibly want to share you with anyone else?'

Arthur had no idea how to respond to such a question and simply smiled back, until he remembered something. 'Just a moment.'

Reaching inside his jacket pocket he drew out his purse. He quickly counted out some coins and handed them over to Kitty. 'For the lunch.'

'Thank you.' She palmed them quickly and tucked them into a small sewing box beside the chair before glancing towards the door.'I should warn you,Arthur, that my brother is inclined to see any male that I seem to favour as a potential husband.'

Arthur was shocked. 'He's not trying to offload you, is he?'

'On the contrary. He seems to think that I am too good a catch for any would-be suitors.You see, he's hoping to inherit an earldom soon, and dreads being associated with some tainted stock I might marry. Not that you're tainted stock, Arthur. I know you're from a good family. I just wanted to give you fair warning, in case Tom seems a little odd when you meet him.'

'Odd?'

'Cold, unfriendly. That sort of thing.'

Hardly had she spoken when the door swung open and a plainly dressed man stepped into the room. He looked to be some years older than Arthur, and his features were as plain as his suit. He did not bother to smile as he strode across the room and offered his hand to the officer who had risen from his chair for the formal greeting.

Arthur smiled. 'You must be Tom. I'm Arthur Wesley.'

'I know. Kitty's told me all about you.'

Arthur's heart sunk. Oh God! What has she said?

'Do relax. It's not all bad.' A smile flitted across Tom's features. 'I'm sure you won't mind if I join you for tea?'

He didn't wait for a response and glanced round, looking for another chair.

'Here.' Arthur gestured to the chair he had been seated in. 'Have mine.'

'That?' Tom looked at the chair. 'That is not yours to give. Don't be an ass, Wesley. Sit down. I'll pull up another.'

He chose a dining chair and placed it a short distance from the others before he sat down, looming over them despite his small stature. Arthur could see at once that Kitty had been right about her brother's anxiety over his status.

Tom slapped his hands down on his thighs. 'So, Arthur, tell me a bit about yourself.'

'There's not much to say.The family's from Meath. Not too far from Pakenham Hall. I'm sure you have heard of us.'