YOUNG MASTER (taking her hand). But if you can see that I can’t live without you; that it means more to me just to be able to kiss your hand than it would to make love to any other woman . . . Emma, I’m not like the rest of them, with all their sweet talk. Maybe I’m just naïve . . . I . . .

YOUNG WIFE. But what if you are just like the rest of them?

YOUNG MASTER. If I were, you wouldn’t be here – because you’re not like other women.

YOUNG WIFE. How can you tell?

YOUNG MASTER (has taken her to the sofa and is sitting beside her).I’ve been thinking about you a lot. I know how unhappy you are.

YOUNG WIFE (pleased). Yes.

YOUNG MASTER. Life is so empty, so meaningless – and it’s so short, so terribly short. Your only chance of happiness is . . . to find someone who loves you.

She takes a candied pear and pops it into her mouth.

Half for me.

She offers it to him between her lips.

YOUNG WIFE (stops his hands from wandering). What do you think you’re doing, Alfred? Is that how you keep your promise?

YOUNG MASTER (swallowing the pear, more boldly). Life is so short.

YOUNG WIFE (weakly). But that doesn’t mean –

YOUNG MASTER (mechanically). Yes, it does.

YOUNG WIFE (more feebly). But Alfred, you absolutely promised to behave . . . anyway, it’s so bright in here.

YOUNG MASTER. You know, don’t you, that you’re the only one . . . my one and only . . . my darling . . . come on . . .

He lifts her up from the sofa.

YOUNG WIFE. What are you doing?

YOUNG MASTER. It’s not so bright in there.

YOUNG WIFE. Is that . . . another room?

YOUNG MASTER (takes her with him). A lovely one . . . and it’s dark.

YOUNG WIFE. Perhaps we should stay in here.

But he is now on the other side of the curtain and in the bedroom with her, unlacing her bodice.

You’re so . . . Oh my God, what are you doing to me? . . . Alfred!

YOUNG MASTER. I worship you, Emma.

YOUNG WIFE. All right, hold on, just give me a minute . . . Go away . . . I’ll call you, when . . .

YOUNG MASTER. Here, let me help that off – you with that off – help you . . . off, with, that . . .

YOUNG WIFE. Careful. You’re tearing everything.

YOUNG MASTER. You’re not wearing a corset?

YOUNG WIFE. Certainly not. Darling, no one does nowadays. But you can undo my shoes for me if you like.

He takes her shoes off and kisses her feet. She slips into bed.

Ooh, it’s so cold.

YOUNG MASTER. It’ll be warm soon enough.

YOUNG WIFE (laughing). You think so?

YOUNG MASTER (irritated, to himself). Meaning what?

Undresses.

YOUNG WIFE (tenderly). Come here. Come here.

YOUNG MASTER (cheered up). Coming.

YOUNG WIFE. Lovely smell of violets here.

YOUNG MASTER. You’re my violet. Yes . . .

Joining her.

You.

YOUNG WIFE. Alfred! Alfred!

YOUNG MASTER. Emma!