They were my mother’s,’ Mistral said quietly. ‘Aunt Emilie gave them to me tonight and said I might wear them. I have never had anything of my mother’s before, but – I wish they weren’t grey.’

“They are unique, magnificent,’ Sir Robert said. ‘I should not think there is another necklace like it in the whole world. Your mother must have been a very wealthy woman to possess such wonderful jewels.’

‘No, she was – ’ Mistral began impulsively, then stopped, seeming to bite back the very words from her lips. ‘You must not ask me questions. Aunt Emilie would be very angry! And now – I must go.’

‘Don’t go,’ Sir Robert said. ‘I have told you that the women were envying you tonight, but wouldn’t you like to know what the men were thinking?’

‘About me?’ Mistral enquired innocently.

‘But of course! Everyone was talking about you, and they were both thinking and saying that you were the most beautiful person they had ever seen in the whole of their lives.’

Mistral’s long lashes veiled her eyes and swept her cheeks, then she turned away.

‘But you are not going,’ Sir Robert said desperately when he saw that was her intention. ‘Have I said something to offend you?

‘I think you are laughing at me,’ Mistral said in a very small voice.

‘I promise I was doing nothing of the sort,’ Sir Robert answered. ‘I was speaking the truth. Don’t you realise, you ridiculous child, how lovely you are?’

She looked up at him then and he saw the colour rise in her cheeks.

‘Nobody has ever told me so,’ she said after a moment.

‘But they must have done,’ Sir Robert protested. ‘You must have met men sometimes – even in your Convent.’

Mistral smiled, and there was a hint of mischief in her eyes.

‘Yes, indeed, I have met men before, but they were either the Priests, who came to perform the services at the Convent, or the parents of the other pupils, who visited us once a year on prize giving day.’

‘And they did not tell you, you were beautiful?’ Sir Robert enquired.

‘They did not, and therefore I think you must be mistaken.’

‘On the contrary, I am merely in a better position to judge than they. Shall I tell you how beautiful you are?’

His voice was low and unexpectedly deep.

Mistral’s eyes dropped before his and once again she turned towards the door.

‘I must go,’ she said. ‘Please, please do not keep me.’

There was no mistaking her determination this time to escape him, but he reached out and caught her hand, drawing her flying feet to a standstill and holding her fingers in his.

‘Promise me one thing before you go – that I may see you again?’

‘I can promise nothing,’ Mistral replied. ‘You do not understand. Aunt Emilie would be very angry indeed if she found out that I had spoken to anyone.’