There was a pause before he heard footsteps coming down an uncarpeted passage and a moment later the door opened.

The elderly woman dressed like a respectable servant who he knew had accompanied Thalia home, was looking at him in what was quite obviously a hostile manner.

“I wish to see Miss Carver,” the Earl said in a commanding manner that intimidated most people.

“Miss Carver is not at home, my Lord.”

The Earl noted immediately the way he was addressed and knew that Thalia must have told the servant who he was, when she had seen him speaking to her in the street.

“I think that is not true.”

“Miss Carver is not receiving, my Lord.”

There was no doubt now of the aggressive note in the woman’s voice and she was making it clear in case the Earl was very obtuse what ‘not at home’ meant.

“I think she will see me,” the Earl said firmly.

He stepped forward as he spoke and because he was so large there was nothing Hannah could do but move backwards.

For a moment she was discomfited. Then, perhaps afraid of being rude to so distinguished a visitor, she opened a door on the left hand side of the passage, saying,

“If your Lordship will wait in here.”

The Earl moved into a small sitting room. It was, he saw, decorated in good taste although there was nothing of any value in the room. But he noted immediately the desk piled with papers and wondered if Thalia drew designs before she trimmed her bonnets so skilfully.

He stood waiting with his back to the fireplace, wondering with a faint smile on his lips what consternation his arrival was causing upstairs.

Then the door opened and Thalia came in.

She had changed her gown, he noticed, for a simple muslin, which became her and seemed to accentuate the lights in her hair and the clearness of her skin.

There was no doubt, the Earl thought as he looked at her, that she was lovely, lovelier than anyone he had seen for a long time and he knew with a sensation almost of triumph that his persistence in finding her had been well worthwhile.

He was not prepared, however, for the way that she shut the door behind her and came quite near to him before she spoke.

Then she said in a low voice that was hardly above a whisper,

“You must not – come here! Please leave – at once!”

“Leave?” the Earl enquired. “But why?”

“Because my mother must not know – that you have called.”

The Earl raised his eyebrows.

“Does your mother’s disapproval apply only to me?” he enquired, “or are your other male acquaintances equally unwelcome?”

“I have no – male acquaintances,” Thalia said. “But Mama would be horrified if she knew you were here.”

“Why?” the Earl asked again.