‘No. But they don’t pressure me too much.’ She gave him a long look, her eyes on his, and continued, ‘I wanted to be a war correspondent at one time, you know, like Mr Churchill when he covered the Boer War. But my father said that women weren’t allowed to cover wars. So that was that.’

Robert nodded. ‘I believe he was correct. It’s a dangerous profession, even for a man.’

‘I know, and I thought if I got killed—’ She broke off, took a sip of champagne, glanced away.

Robert Lassiter was silent, endeavouring to truly understand what was going on here. He knew he felt as if he had been hit by a truck. This woman took his breath away, filled him with rampant sexual feelings. He desired her, wanted her, for always. As down to earth as he was, he knew, nonetheless, things like this did happen to men and women. The French called it a coup de foudre; he called it recognition – the moment when twin souls suddenly meet.

He had great insight into people, and he was pretty certain Vanessa had felt the same when they finally came face to face. But he needed to be sure.

She was light-hearted, flirting with him, playing him a little, and he was allowing it. And yet she had been quite blunt when she admitted she had wanted to talk to him on other occasions and had tried to seek him out. And she had made a plan to do so tonight.

‘You’re quiet,’ Vanessa murmured, cutting into his thoughts. ‘Is something wrong?’ She sounded worried.

He shook himself. ‘No, not at all. I’m just a little baffled, though, and perhaps you could enlighten me.’

‘Of course I will. Tell me why you’re baffled.’

‘You said you’d seen me here several times in the past, had tried to get through the usual crowd of people in order to properly meet me. I’m right, am I not?’

‘Yes. I did say it, and I did do it. But you were always surrounded by an admiring swirl of skirts or men out to pick your brains.’

His mouth twitched, he wanted to laugh, but he held it back. ‘Why did you want to meet me?’

‘Because … because … well, I … er … just did. After all, you’re very good-looking, and charming, and … er …’ Her voice trailed off, and she felt herself blushing. He had put her in a spot.

She was suddenly afraid to continue. To hide her embarrassment, she sat down in a garden chair and looked up at the sky, still light on this summer’s evening.