‘Damn the girl! She is more trouble than she is worth!’ he told himself angrily, as he reached Berkeley Square.

But he knew, even as he spoke the words beneath his breath, that he lied and he would never give up until he had won her, as he fully intended to do.

Chapter Five

The Earl opened the note that Henry had brought back to him and read it with a rueful expression on his face.

It was what he thought he might have expected and yet he had been optimistic because never in the past had any woman he had shown an interest in turned him down.

But the note he held in his hand was very explicit and he read it again.

“I regret, my Lord, it is impossible for me to meet your Lordship tonight as you have suggested.

I thank you for a very interesting evening.

I remain, my Lord,

Yours sincerely,

Thalia Carver.”

The writing, he thought, was what he had expected, elegant, educated and with a distinct personality about it.

He realised that the servant who had brought him the note after Henry had returned with it to his house was waiting.

“That will be all,” the Earl told him.

When he was alone carrying the note in his hand, he walked across the room to the window to look out at the garden in the centre of Berkeley Square.

He, however, did not see the trees, the flowers, but only Thalia’s lovely face with its wide eyes, two irrepressible dimples and firm little chin.

He wondered what he could do to persuade her to dine with him.

He had the very unpleasant feeling that she had decided that they should not see each other again and he was at a loss as to how he could break down that decision and force her to do as he wished.

He walked from the window across the room and back again.

Was it possible that after all these years of getting his own way too easily where women were concerned, he had found the one woman who was not interested in him as a man?

Then he remembered the little quiver that had passed through Thalia when he had kissed her hand and knew that she was interested, even if it was only slightly, and perhaps that more than anything else was the reason why she was determined to have nothing to do with him.

‘What shall I do?’ he asked.

He found himself thinking of what should be his next approach almost as if in fact, as she had said, it was a battle between them.

The door opened and Richard, without being announced, came into the room.

“What are you up to, Vargus?” he asked. “I have been waiting for you at the Club.”

“I am sorry, Richard,” the Earl replied. “I had actually forgotten that we were to have luncheon together.”

Richard looked at him sharply.