He stared blindly across the room. ‘Marrying for sound reasons was the way they used to make marriages in the past, and I believe it’s just as valid as today’s madly-in-love matches, half of which are simply madly-in-lust. And half of which fail.’

He waited, as if expecting a response from her, but she couldn’t think what to say. She definitely did believe in love.

His tone grew scornful. ‘You’ve only to study the divorce rate, Megan, if you want proof that the current method of meeting life partners doesn’t work particularly well. Divorce has never been higher. I’ve seen so many people I know marry, divorce, remarry, as if they’re jumping on and off some sort of roundabout. I don’t want that – that madness. Marriage is too important to be treated lightly.’

‘Whatever your reasoning, it’s still too soon for us, Ben. We really ought to spend more time together first before we take such a big step. Even live together, and later perhaps, if we continue to get on well…’ That was what she’d always planned to do, anyway. She couldn’t dive into marriage with a stranger, a man she hardly knew.

‘Unfortunately I have to go to Australia to fulfil the conditions of entry. I’d intended to stay there for a year or two. If we got married, if you could see past tradition, I think it would work brilliantly. It’d make a wonderful honeymoon trip, too, because I’m stopping off in Singapore on the way for a few days to tie up some more loose ends in my business.’

When she said nothing, he frowned and took her hand, pulling her closer. ‘You have only to say you’re not interested in me and we’ll forget all about it. But I rather thought that we were getting on quite well.’ A light kiss on her cheek made it hard for her to breathe steadily, let alone think clearly. ‘Megan, I’d really like to marry you.’

She sagged against him, loving the feel of his arms around her, relieved when he didn’t say anything else, just held her close, giving her time to think.

She was surprised how tempted she was to say yes, but no, that would be stupid. Hadn’t she always vowed not to marry unless she could find someone to love as much as her parents had loved one another. Even as a child, she’d known how close they were. ‘Couldn’t you – come back to England for a visit now and then, Ben? We could spend more time together then and – and—’