But Rose was being singularly pleasant to him – because she wanted to break his heart although he did not know that. So on the morning of the fourth day of the visit, he said a trifle awkwardly, ‘Lady Rose, I may be doing the wrong thing but I did bring you and Daisy a present.’

‘What is it?’ asked Rose.

‘I bought you a bicycle each.’

‘Oh, how simply marvellous. Daisy, the captain has bought us bicycles. May we start to learn to ride them right away?’

‘You will need to change,’ said Harry, looking at Rose’s white muslin gown with its flounces and frills.

‘Come, Daisy,’ said Rose, ‘I cannot wait to begin.’

So Becket’s dream of holding Daisy’s waist while he taught her to ride came true. Both girls were wearing divided skirts, white blouses and straw boaters.

There was a wood on the estate with a bridle path running through it. To the disappointment of both men, the girls proved to be quick learners.

‘Daisy and I will go for a run on our own,’ said Rose. Only after the pair had gone flying off did Harry regret not having brought bicycles for himself and Becket.

Lady Glensheil came up to them as they were walking back to the house. ‘I saw you gentlemen wheeling bicycles. Where are the young ladies?’

‘Gone off cycling. They learned very quickly.’

‘Oh, this cycling craze,’ sighed Lady Glensheil. ‘I keep a few for guests.’

‘Where?’ demanded Harry eagerly.

Lady Glensheil turned to her ever-present maid and footman. She said to the footman, ‘Paul, fetch a couple of gentleman’s bikes.’

Rose felt dizzy with happiness as she and Daisy flew down the bridle path. It was such a delicious sense of freedom. At last they stopped. ‘I think we should go back,’ said Daisy, anxious to see Becket again. ‘We didn’t even thank the captain properly.’

‘Oh, very well.’ They turned their bikes around when a man stepped out from the shelter of the trees and held a pistol on them.

‘Dr McWhirter,’ gasped Rose.

His eyes glowed in the green gloom of the forest with a mad light.

‘It was all your fault,’ he said. ‘You ruined me. Me. I was once the most courted doctor in Mayfair. My business is ruined. I am ruined. But I’ll take you with me, you nasty, scheming little bitch.’

Daisy felt she should stand in front of Rose, but that would mean he would shoot both of them. She was terrified and her bladder gave.

He smiled and cocked the pistol.