‘And I wish to please you too, darling. We’ll make it work, I promise. As long as our relationship is a secret and we’re not seen, all will be well. Now, I have a thought …’ He smiled at her and squeezed her hand.

‘What is it, Robert? You’ve got a strange look on your face.’ She sounded puzzled.

‘Are you free this evening, my dearest lady?’

‘I am. What do you have in mind?’ Excitement filled her voice once more.

‘Supper at my house? Can you come? I can send my Daimler for you. My driver will take you back home later.’

‘Oh, how wonderful! That will be lovely. What time shall I be ready?’

‘Ten minutes to seven.’

‘Will I be your only guest?’

‘Most probably, unless Adrian stops by. Do you mind about that? Mind him being there?’

‘Not at all. Does he know we were having tea? Know about us? The way we feel?’

‘Yes. He’s known me since I was eight, as he was then. We were at prep school together and then at Eton. He’s the closest person to me, and I to him. And so I trust him implicitly. In fact, he’s the only person I do trust.’

She gave him a penetrating look and asked in a quiet, serious voice, ‘Don’t you trust me, Lord Robert?’

‘I do, actually.’

‘You should,’ she said, in that same serious tone. ‘I have only your best interests at heart. I would never betray you or hurt you.’

‘Thank you. One last question. Do you trust me, Vanessa?’

‘With my life.’

‘It’s in safekeeping, I promise you that. Always.’

Vanessa arrived at the Grosvenor Square house at precisely seven o’clock, having been driven from her home in Curzon Street by Palmer. Robert’s driver was quiet and only spoke when spoken to.

Vanessa couldn’t help herself, she had to ask him all about the motorcar, and he answered her accordingly.

It was a short drive, and she soon arrived at Robert’s house, where she was greeted by the butler, Turnbull.

‘Good evening, Miss Stratton,’ he said and, after closing the front door behind her, he led her into the library. ‘Lord Robert is waiting for you.’

The moment he saw her, Robert jumped up from behind his desk, and walked forward, a welcoming smile on his face. After kissing her hand, he let it go at once, and asked, ‘Would you like a glass of champagne, Vanessa?’

‘That would be lovely, Lord Robert. Thank you.’

Glancing at the butler, Robert said, ‘I’ll pour it, Turnbull, thank you. And Lord Adrian will be arriving shortly.’

‘Very good, m’lord.’ With a nod and a smile at them both, the butler retreated, closed the door behind him.

Robert walked over to Vanessa, who was standing near the fireplace, and said in a tone of total admiration, ‘You look positively gorgeous, Miss Stratton. Too beautiful for words.’