“It is no use to deny it, for I see that you have heard such rumours,” Hugh went on, harsh with bitterness. He had no defence except the truth, but to explain would destroy Beatrice’s reputation. He turned away and thrust the door wide. “Be off with you,” he said. “You need not fear me.” Philomena did not move. Her trembling ceased.

Slowly, she raised her eyes and looked Hugh full in the face, a puzzled frown playing between her eyes.

“Well? Will you not escape while you may?”

“I am sorry,” she said at last.

“Sorry?” Hugh was puzzled. “Sorry you disobeyed me?”

She grinned. “Of course I should not have done so, my lord, but that is not why I am sorry. I am ashamed. I am afraid I listened to wicked and ridiculous gossip, which was quite stupid of me.” A dimple appeared in each cheek. “Just because you are bad-tempered and proud and think everyone beneath you, and seem to have disliked your wife and take hardly any notice of your son, it does not mean you had anything to do with your wife’s death. Of course, you did not. No one could think so.”

Hugh’s jaw dropped. No one ever dared to speak to him like that. He opened his mouth but had to clear his throat before any words would come. This was beyond anything. Yet, she did not think him guilty or wicked. The child was scared of him, but still, she smiled. Her smile was delightful.

“Do not be afraid that I will repeat my behaviour of earlier today. I hope you will forgive me. I treated you extremely badly. I am sad to hear that, because of my ill-mannered conduct, you find me—er, what was it you said? Bad-tempered? Proud?” He tried and failed to hold back a smile. “By the way, I thank you for your kindness and I am pleased to assure you that I am not, in fact, a murderer.”

“I think that the excitements of the past few days overcame us both today, when we were in the woods,” she said. “We were very foolish and both to blame.”

Hugh detected a trace of mischief in her dimples. “Ah, but I see in your face that you blame me the more, for I am the master of the house and should know better. Is that not so?”

She paused, thoughtful. “No. As the master of Thatcham Hall, you are accustomed to take anything you desire. I believe it is well accepted that wealthy persons such as you wield considerable power over lesser mortals such as I.”