But today Violet had no eyes for her own possessions. She moved from the Sheraton bureau to the Knole settee, from an Adam console table to the window and back again without seeing any of them. She was thinking of one person and one person only – Robert Stanford! It was the middle of the afternoon and still he had not called on her. She guessed that in all likelihood he was out riding and alone, nevertheless it was a departure from their usual routine and with a sudden fear she began to recollect the times recently when Robert had seemed less eager for her company and to add them up to a formidable total.

When he had first come to Monte Carlo but a few days after her own arrival, it had seemed that he could never see too much of her and that the days were too short for all the things they had to say to each other. But slowly, so that she had not realised it until now, he had changed. She could not explain even to herself how it had happened. It had been so gradual, and intent on hiding the depth of her own feelings from him, she had not noticed the change in his.

Now, twisting her hands together as she walked up and down on the valuable Persian rugs with which the room was carpeted, Violet knew there was a barrier between them, a barrier of reserve and unspoken secrets.

What was it and how had it come to be erected? She could not answer the question even to herself. She only knew that Robert was different, Robert, whose tempestuous, exciting love making had swept her off her feet, was now quieter, his impetuosity gone.

Why had she been so blind?

She should have been alert, perceptive enough to notice the very first severance in the links which bound them together. She should have been on her guard, knowing that her power over him was never as strong as she would have herself believe.

She caught a sudden glimpse of her own reflection in an ancient gold-framed mirror which hung on one wall. She looked old, with a frown between her eyes, her lips drooping. She threw back her head defiantly – this was no way to captivate a man or to keep him enraptured. But her eyes were still frightened and uneasy.