She felt there was almost a note of hysteria in her voice, but it seemed as if Robert noticed nothing. He walked towards the window with his back towards her.

‘You must do what you think best,’ he said at length. ‘If Eric really wants you – ’

‘He does,’ Violet interrupted. ‘He loves me, has always loved me in his own way.’

‘Then – ’

Robert turned. Her eyes searched his face, taking in every detail, striving to remember the clear outline of his square jaw, the curve of his lips.

‘Then I suppose that we – ’ he began, and stopped.

Violet made a sudden gesture with her hands.

‘Don’t let’s talk about it! I hate good-byes! There is nothing worse than mooning over a love affair that is finished, or having a post mortem on a passion that has died.’

‘Are you sure you mean that?’ Robert asked.

‘Yes, of course I mean it.’

Violet turned towards the mantelpiece and moved a china ornament from one place to another.

‘My dear Robert, everything comes to an end in time, even happiness. Don’t let us say good-bye conventionally, with all the frills and conventional expressions of gratitude. Let us remember things as they were and forget that there is no tomorrow. It is so much better that way.’

‘It is of course exactly as you wish,’ Robert said, and this time she heard the relief in his voice.

She felt for a moment that she could not go on, that she must tell him the truth. But once again her love triumphed over her weakness. She gave a little sigh.

‘Dear Robert,’ she said. ‘What fun it has been! I don’t think I have ever enjoyed the South of France as much as I have this year. I shall miss the sunshine in Norfolk, for I always think it is a particularly grey county – ’

Even as she spoke the adjective she felt a pang shoot through her. The word was inseparably connected with one person! She knew now that she could stand no more, that she must bring the curtain down on her act before her audience discovered how inadequate an actress she was.

She put her hand to her forehead.

‘Robert, you must go,’ she said. ‘I am tired and I have a headache. If you can help me in any way tomorrow, I will send a note to your Hotel asking you to come here. If you do not hear from me, it will be because I am too busy. I must finish this letter to Eric and then I shall literally fall into bed. I am exhausted at making so many decisions in one day.’

As she spoke, she moved across the room to the bureau, seated herself and took up a pen.

‘Good night, Robert,’ she said over her shoulder.