She nodded in agreement. ‘Oh yes, I was so proud of Ruby. Nothing seemed to faze her and William seemed very taken with her designs.’

‘You’ve grown very fond of her, haven’t you?’ he asked, looking at her intently.

She flushed and nodded. ‘Er . . . yes, I suppose I have,’ she admitted.

‘Hm, I must say, I have too.’ He continued to stare at her thoughtfully for a moment before saying in a quiet voice, ‘I also realised during this trip that I care for you very much.’

Serena’s head snapped round and her eyes were huge as she gasped, ‘Oh, Oscar, don’t say anything you don’t mean, please. I’m happy to go on just as we are so long as I can be close to you. I’m just your housekeeper, remember!’

He took her gloved hand in his, thankful that they had the carriage to themselves. ‘You stopped being just the housekeeper to me long ago,’ he told her. ‘But I was married to Lydia, still am – for now at least. But perhaps when my divorce comes through . . . What I’m trying to say, and very badly, is do you think you could ever care for me?’

She bowed her head as tears stung the back of her eyes. ‘You must know that I love you. I’ve loved you for years,’ she confessed in a wobbly voice.

‘So, does that mean then that I can hope that perhaps one day . . . ? I mean, I wouldn’t want to put you in a compromising position so I wouldn’t expect anything of you until I was free again but—’

‘Shush!’ Her eyes met his. ‘You must remember that even when you are divorced, I shall still be your housekeeper,’ she reminded him gently. ‘Imagine what people would say.’

‘What do I care about what people say?’ he scoffed. ‘You are and always have been ten times the lady Lydia ever was and any man would be proud to have you on his arm. I know I certainly would.’ And then without giving her a chance to say another word he leant towards her and when her lips gently met his he felt like the luckiest man in the world. When they finally broke apart, he was beaming from ear to ear and suddenly the future looked bright again.

Their happy mood continued until they eventually reached the house. Oscar quickly paid the cabbie and carried the luggage inside and Betty came hurrying down the hallway to meet them.

‘Welcome home,’ she said, although her tone was subdued and they both sensed something was amiss. They soon found out what it was when she whispered, ‘Miss Miranda is in the drawing room waiting for you, sir. She arrived this morning.’