And it seemed to her that this renunciation had to begin straight away. Always congratulated by her father for her ‘great strength of purpose’, Jane Adeane now knew that she had to call upon this and try to strike from her memory the rapture she had experienced with Julietta in Paris, even learning to describe what they had done together as ‘wickedness’ and letting it become something of which she needed to feel slightly embarrassed and ashamed.

Before she faltered in this resolve, Jane sat down at her writing desk and began a letter to Julietta.

My dear love, she wrote. Because you and I were always so very honest with each other, I will not fuss you with a long and rambling letter, but get straight to my point.

I have done as you and Emmeline suggested I should do and agreed to become the wife of Dr Valentine Ross. We will marry in the autumn. I am in no doubt that he loves me very much, for he tells me repeatedly that he has never loved anyone else and when I let him make love to me, which I have done many times, his desire has always appeared … well, how can I describe it …? I cannot, really. I will leave you to imagine its desperation. In me, there was no answering rapture, but let me say I believe my Valentine is an honourable man and that we stand a good chance of being contented together.

But I fear that this contentment rests upon one condition. It is the harshest condition, Julietta, yet I know that without it, I will be unable to submit to my future life.

You and I must never be lovers again.

I am in no doubt that you will often and often enter my dreams and a memory of what we were to each other in Paris will rise up and fill me with longing, but I must do my utmost to put you out of my mind altogether …

Jane had reached this point in her letter when there was a knock at her door. It was Sir William, and Jane could tell by his pallor and by the taut set of his mouth that he had bad news to impart.

‘Jane,’ he said, ‘I have word from London, from Emmeline’s maid, Nancy. Emmeline has suffered a paroxysm of the heart. She calls for you. Not for me, but for you. I fear that you may be all that stands between her and death. I know that you would not wish this at such a time, now that you want to be at Ross’s side and prepare for your marriage, but I must ask you if you would be willing to go to her.’

Jane turned from her letter, which she placed face-down on the desk and stared at her father.

‘Is it too much to ask of you?’ said Sir William.

‘No,’ said Jane calmly. ‘Of course not. Poor dear Emmeline! I will go to London.’