‘Of course,’ she answered, and realized he was still holding her hand. She decided not to disentangle herself since he hadn’t, and he led her to the end of the long drawing room without speaking.

Robert finally let go of her hand, and opened the French doors wider. ‘There, that’s better,’ he said, turning back to her. A waiter was drawing closer, and Robert swiftly took two glasses of champagne from his tray, and thanked him.

Robert never took his eyes off her face as he handed her the flute. They touched glasses without saying a word, just gazed into each other’s eyes.

Finally, it was she who spoke. ‘I’m glad the crowd hasn’t migrated down here. We’re in a little bubble, lovely and quiet, aren’t we?’

He laughed. ‘That’s a nice way of putting it. I’d no idea it would be such a crowd, so many people tonight.’

‘Caroline doesn’t keep track of whom she invites. That’s why it’s always like this. Eloise says she does it on purpose.’

‘Who is Eloise?’ he added, filled with curiosity about Vanessa.

‘My eldest sister, she is our eldest sister. She believes Caroline likes crowds.’

‘Is Eloise here tonight?’

‘Oh no, she lives in Paris. She’s married to a Frenchman, Jean-Claude. I go to see her quite often. She has a baby girl. And now she’s happy.’

‘Was she unhappy before?’ he wondered out loud.

‘Very. Jean-Claude didn’t want children. You see, he’s much older than Eloise. But she talked him into it.’

‘How old is he?’ Robert asked, wondering what this lovely-looking young woman considered old.

‘He’s forty. Can you imagine?’ She grimaced.

‘And how old is Eloise?’ he murmured.

‘She’s twenty-eight. But she’s … well, she’s very grown-up and sophisticated. I enjoy going there, because I also like to go to the art galleries. I love Impressionist paintings.’

‘So do I!’ he exclaimed, forgetting about age for the moment. ‘Who is your favourite, if you have one?’ His eyes were still on her, but now they were filled with curiosity.

‘Renoir, most of all,’ Vanessa answered. ‘But I also like Cézanne. And you? Who do you like?’

He smiled that dazzling smile of his, and said, ‘Renoir and Cézanne.’

Vanessa laughed and raised her glass, touched it to his. ‘There, you see, we have the same taste.’

As she spoke, she edged towards the French doors, and then looked at him. ‘Let’s go outside. It’s cooler.’

‘Good idea.’ Robert followed her, realizing that they would also be totally alone out in the garden. Those amber eyes flecked with gold, the white skin like polished alabaster, the high forehead and prominent cheekbones, and the very sensual mouth. He longed to seize her hand, rush her out of this house, and take her away to another quiet place to be alone, talk to her.