Apologia for my temerity in writing this memoir: I shall not say how, and why, at the age of 15 I became the mistress of the Earl of Craven, because I never had the kind of opportunities that Harriette Wilson wast’d.However, I enjoy’d the patronage of a number of generous suitors, and in particular, at the age of 27 I fell in with a wealthy Northern ironmaster, whose sound financial advice even more than his generosity ensur’d me the means for comfortable living without the need for...

Clorinda returns to Town after her supposed sojourn at Carlsbad helping Miss G- out of a pickle. She is now in a loving triad relationship with the F-s, hindered by distance and concerns for their reputation, and has given them her beloved baby daughter Flora to bring up as their own. Can she regain her former position? Will her circle recover from Miss A-'s wild behaviour?

Following her very brief marriage to Lord R-‘s friend the Marquess of B-, Clorinda is now the Dowager Marchioness of B-. While constrained by the formalities of mourning, she is becoming accepted in Society through her own ventures into philanthropy and the patronage of Lady J-. She remains the beloved third of Mr and Mrs F-. She takes up her pen again during a trip to her late husband’s villa near Naples in company with Lord R- and Mr MacD‑.

Clorinda is becoming increasingly accepted in Society. The F-s are also getting on and it is proposed that Josiah F- should stand as an MP. As a result of Clorinda’s contrivances, the F-s will come to reside with their family in the east wing of R- House, enabling Eliza F- to sort out the ongoing domestic problems in Lord R-’s establishment. However, a device is still needed to prevent any speculations upon the relationship between Lord R- and Mr MacD-…

Shaken by her action in thwarting the malign intentions of Mr R- O-, and saddened by the breach this has caused in her friendship with Sandy, Clorinda has fled to Naples with the Contessa, leaving matters in Town out of her hands. Can matters among her set get along without her? Can her friendship with Sandy ever be repaired?

Clorinda is now most happily reconciled with Mr F- and has found unexpected female friendship with Mrs F-. Her position is a good deal more secure as a result of General Y-‘s bequest. Biffle, Duke of M-, is now happily married to the former Miss T-. Mrs O’C- has obtained a separation from her scoundrel husband. Mr O’C-‘s malign plots have been thwarted. Mr E- has been prevailed upon to pay a substantial sum to Seraphine to provide for their child, and has left Town under a cloud. But Clori...

Clorinda has successfully brought about a better state of affairs in the household of Lord D-. However, there are still problems in her circle; in particular, there seems something not quite right in the Earl of N-’s establishment…

Matters having fallen out very satisfactorily for the family of the Earl of N-, and with several other problems contrived for, Clorinda embarks upon a round of summer house-parties. But there are troubling sinister undercurrents…

Alexander MacDonald M.A. (Edinburgh), takes ‘the finest sight a Scotsman ever sees’, the road to London. Political views: radical. Philosophical tendency: Utilitarian. Private inclinations: towards his own sex. Favourite poet: Robert Burns. Fortune: none. Influential friends: none. Social graces: minimal. Intellect: superior. He anticipates finding friends and comrades – maybe even, since a man may hope, a lover – among those of similar kind. He is going to be surprised. Very surprised.

A Parliamentary election causes considerable upheaval to the summer plans of Society in general, and of Clorinda and her circle. But besides any choices concerning the government of the nation, several of them find that they have to make decisions touching on more personal matters.

Clorinda continues becoming ever closer to the F-s and their family. Their political coterie is growing in esteem and gaining further allies. But there are consequences still impending from contrivances she formerly wrought, as well as problems closer to home…

Clorinda has brought about a happier state of affairs in the Earl of N-’s family, but fears that this may have earned her the Earl’s enmity. The bad poet Mr W- Y-’s behaviour is becoming increasingly and worryingly erratic. Bets are being laid on the likelihood of Clorinda’s remarriage, and the identity of the groom. There are still a deal of contrivances upon hand.