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“Yes,” Theo responded at once. “But not until this afternoon. Lil and I have a practice session booked to run through a new routine.” Hetty opened her mouth then closed it again. Theo eyed her curiously wondering what she wanted to say, but after a couple of minutes, it seemed nothing else was forthcoming.

“What do you think?” Hetty said finally, gesturing to the framed sketch.

Theo turned to look at it. “I love it,” she said and smiled.

The sisters took lunch together and then Hetty announced her intention of pressing some clothes which had been sadly crumpled from her trunk and Theo readied herself to set off to The Eagle.

“Guess who’s in the audience tonight,” Lil demanded as soon as Theo joined her in their dressing room.

“Peggy!” Theo guessed, naming Lil’s old dresser and companion.

“That’s right,” Lil said. “And Mother Longdon too.” She pulled a face. “Not sure what the old gal will make of the act, but I will say, she’s mellowed a lot in recent years. When her son first wed me, she thought I was a scarlet woman.”

“And now she is your greatest supporter,” said Theo dropping a kiss on Lil’s rouged cheek.

“Well, I dunno about that,” Lil extemporized, “but she does acknowledge I’ve done a sight more for her than her own flesh and blood daughter.”

“Have you seen Marianne recently?” Theo asked after Lil’s sister-in-law as she hung up her bonnet and scarf.

“Not for a couple of months at least. That woman she acts companion for had to take the spa waters, so they upped sticks for Tunbridge Wells.” Lil sniffed. “S’alright for some.”

“I’ve always thought it must be rather awful to be someone’s paid companion,” Theo reflected. “And forced to be always agreeable and cheerful no matter what.”

Lil snorted. “Marianne’s never been agreeable in her life, the sour-faced cow! You should hear the way she lords it over her mother that she lives in a Georgian townhouse with four servants while we live in two tiny rooms over a hat shop. Mrs Montague-Smythe wouldn’t dream of sleeping in a room that faces south, she mimicked in a pretentious voice.

“With a bit of luck, you’ll be able to start looking for new rooms soon,” Theo pointed out. Their pay packet had already increased three times, each time they had been bumped up the bill. Now they were second only to Florrie Foss.

Lil nodded, her eyes softening. “I know, but my two old dears are anxious lest I overstretch meself. They want us to save up a bit of a nest-egg first.”

Theo cleared her throat as she sat down at her own dressing room table. “Henrietta’s home,” she said. “Her plans with Hillingdon didn’t work out.”

Lil turned in her seat to stare blankly at her. “What d’you mean, things didn’t work out?” she asked.

“I’m not entirely sure to be honest. She’s asked us to give her some time before she’s ready to explain. I think she’s had a rough time of it.” She avoided Lil’s piercing gaze. “The only one she’s really confided in is Vincent.”

“Vincent?” Lil repeated sounding flabbergasted.

“Yes.”

“Vincent, your brother’s doorman?”

“Yes.” Dora took a deep breath. “I would not be surprised if, well, if Henrietta has finally started to think of him differently. In the light of a suitor, I mean.”

Lil dropped her powder puff. “What?” she squawked. “That great hulking brute? With your beautiful sister?” She laughed derisively. “I wouldn’t get your hopes up, Theo love. Henrietta knows her own worth and there’s no way she’d throw herself away on Vincent with his ugly mug.”

“She’s different with him now,” Theo insisted. “She was always kind to him, but … sort of distant. And she isn’t now.” Theo screwed up her eyes. “She’s well … I don’t know how to describe it. And you know Vincent was always slavishly devoted to her.”

“Gawd, anyone with eyes in their head knew that!” Lil responded with spirit. “But if you’re trying to tell me Haughty Henrietta is giving him the come hither … Well, I just can’t picture it, darlin’. Sorry to say.”

“I don’t know that anyone could accuse Hetty of that,” Theo admitted thinking of her sister’s rigid sense of propriety, “but when I walked into the hall the other night, she was holding his hand in hers.”

Lil squinted at her. “That’s all?” she uttered derisively. “Lord, that could just be in friendship.”

“N-no.” Theo shook her head. “No, not with Hetty’s reserve. She would never have done that before. She would not have wanted to give him false hope.”

Lil snorted. “I still say as you’re reading too much into it. I told you she’d find Hillingdon a slippery customer to get up the aisle. She’s likely just seeking comfort in a familiar friend after her let down. Unless …” A suddenly suspicious expression passed over Lil’s face.

“Unless what?” Theo asked.