Spoilers ahead!

Why does it take so long for Viscount Desford and Henrietta Silverdale to get together? We’ve got theories…

They’ve both enjoyed a few years of freedom and frivolity of course, which makes a nice change. Des’s father is still alive and kicking (and perfectly capable of a delivering a fine trimming) so there wasn’t any need for Des to assume responsibility early like some of our other heroes. And Hetta? We suspect her heart was engaged before Des’s was, but she didn’t seem to be pining away, merely keeping herself entertained with an array of suitors while Des shook off some youthful racketyness.

So all it needed was the perfectly lovely Mr Cary Nethercott and Miss Cherry Steane to make our lovers realise they wouldn’t be happy to see their best friend with anyone else.

Perhaps that means they settled down at just the right time. We like to think so.

And woven in amongst this lovely journey from best friends to lovers, we have the joy of meeting the irascible and loyal to the last, Simon Carrington, Lord Nettlecombe and his lady housekeeper wife, and of course Wilfred Steane, or should we say Baron Monte Toscana?

Fascinated, Simon said: ‘Do you - do you carry different cards, sir?’

‘Certainly! I find it convenient to use one card here, and another there, for you must know I am domiciled abroad, and spend much of my time in travel. But this card,’ he said, handing it to Simon with a flourish, ‘bears my true name, and will doubtless explain to you why I have sought you out!’

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