The Welsteads of Valentines Mansion loved a good cup of tea - the great British, civilized way to refresh oneself in the morning and particularly, mid afternoon.  Their tea came from China, courtesy of the great East India Company.

When hard currency, in the form of silver, became more difficult to mobilise, the Company hit upon the idea of exporting opium from India, and pushing it onto the Chinese market, to raise cash to buy tea.

Since her disappointment with Mr Beauchamp, Sophia increasingly took solace in the pleasures of her pipe.