"So I see."

"Determined to see that languidly uninterested stepson of mine legshackled to Antonia Mannering." Henrietta thumped her chair arm for emphasis, then swivelled to look at Trant who had retreated to the windowseat. "You have to admit she's everything he needs."

Without raising her eyes from her stitchery, Trant nodded. "She's that and more-you'll get no argument from me on that score. We've watched her grow and know her background-good bones, good breeding and all the graces you could want."

"Precisely." Henrietta's eyes gleamed. "She's just what Philip needs. All we have to do is ensure he realizes it. Shouldn't be too difficult-he's not at all dull-witted."

"That's what worries me, if you want to know." Trant snipped a thread and reached into her basket. "Despite that sleepy air of his, he's wide awake enough on most suits. If he gets wind of your plans, he might just slip his leash. Not so much a case of not liking the girl as of not liking the persuading, if you take my meaning."

Henrietta grimaced. "I do indeed. I haven't forgotten what happened when I invited Miss Locksby and her family for a week and promised them Philip would be here-remember?" She shuddered. "He took one look, not at Miss Locksby but at her mother, then recalled a prior engagement at Belvoir. Such a coil-I spent the entire week trying to make amends." Henrietta sighed. "The worst of it was that after that week I couldn't help but feel grateful he wouldn't marry Miss Locksby-I could never have borne Mrs Locksby as a relative."

A sound suspiciously like a smothered snort came from Trant.

"Yes, well." Henrietta fluffed her shawls. "You may be sure that I understand that we must go carefully in this- and not just because of Ruthven. I warn you, Trant, if Antonia gets any inkling of my active interest, she's likely to…to…well, at the very least, she's likely to become uncooperative."