“Shall I explain?” the Marquis went on, his eyes on hers.

He still clasped her hand and her eyes were held by his. She felt as if something strange and alive passed between them and she felt herself suddenly tremble.

he did not know what if was, but it was as if something tingled through her whole body, making her breath come a little quicker from between her parted lips and the colour rising very slowly in her pale cheeks.

She could not move, she could not speak.

She could only stare at him, stare into the impenetrable depths of those dark eyes, which seemed to hold her and then change and deepen until she fancied, for one unbelievable moment, that she saw a fire deep down inside them.

She wanted to run away and she wanted to stay. She wanted to move, but she could only remain where she was.

She could not think, she could not understand.

he could only feel – feel something strange happening to her and, not understanding what it was, knew that her whole body responded to it.

And then, while she waited, while she could not even breathe, the door was suddenly opened.

The butler crossed the room and the Marquis let go of Gretna’s hand.

She sat back on her heels, her arms went round one of the spaniels and, dropping her head, she laid her cheek against its soft silky coat.

“What is it?”

The Marquis’s voice was harsh.

“Lord Wroxhall has called, my Lord.”

“Lord Wroxhall!”

“Yes, my Lord. He wishes to speak with your Lordship and I have shown him into the salon.”

“Very good. I will join him there.”

The Marquis rose to his feet. He looked down for a moment at Gretna, her face hidden and her pale gold curls falling in sweet confusion over her shoulders.

“Wait here,” he murmured. “I will not be long.”

He left the room, going into the salon that adjoined it, not by the door that the butler had come through but by another smaller door in the corner of the room where it could scarcely be noticed.

He closed the door behind him and, now that she was sure he had gone, Gretna raised her head and looked after him.

Very slowly her two hands crept up towards her cheeks.

What had happened? Why did she feel like this?

What unknown effect was it that he had upon her? She was afraid of him and yet at the same time she felt that she trusted him.

‘When he returns, I will tell him the truth about myself,’ she thought, and knew that because of what had happened in that moment she wanted to sweep away all pretence and deception.

What did he mean by what he had suggested? Would he personally find her employment? Did he mean here at Stade Hall, she wondered, but could find no answer to her questions?