‘I’ll go and get some money changed for you, then.’

‘I have my own money.’

‘Don’t be silly, Megan! You’ll need more than that.’

Anger surged up again. Did the women he had known sit around and wait for handouts? Well, she wasn’t going to. ‘I won’t need more, actually! There’s a group excursion going out for a tour of the main sights tonight, and then on to a restaurant for dinner. It’s not very expensive. Miss Barreth is going, so I won’t be alone. I’ll go and book on that.’ Determined to show him how independent she was, she turned to wave at her former companion, mouthing the words, ‘Wait for me!’

The older woman nodded.

‘I’ll go and book for you, then,’ he said brusquely.

She was surprised as well as annoyed at his insistence. ‘Ben, I’m quite capable of managing things like that for myself!’

‘I know you are, but I have to go and get some money changed for myself and I can book your excursion at the same time.’ He hesitated. ‘I didn’t mean to sound over-protective, truly. I’ll see you up in our room shortly.’

She watched him walk across the lobby. When wearing his public persona, he looked sleek, well groomed and ready to kill. She could see women’s eyes turning to follow his progress.

She much preferred him in relaxed mode, but she realised suddenly that she’d only seen him looking relaxed a few times. Since she joined him in London, he’d more often looked like this.

Her heart sank. Was this to be the pattern of their lives? Formality and separation, with an occasional relaxed patch in between? Ben said he’d sold his company, but his business interests still seemed to dominate his life, even on his honeymoon.

I’m being unfair, she told herself. He can’t renege on his previous arrangements. Squaring her shoulders, she walked briskly across for a word with Miss Barreth, who was delighted to have a companion on the sightseeing trip.

When Ben came up to their room, they were polite to one another but a little cool as they changed for their respective outings. The suit he donned this time was a light cream in colour, but no less formal than his dark ones, and with his hair sleeked down and his expression impersonal, he seemed like a different man entirely.

That man didn’t even attempt to kiss her goodbye and this upset her most of all. Had she married a myth of her own creation? Had she been completely mistaken about Ben Saunders’ true nature? The thought sent a pang through her. Surely not? No, that was just disappointment colouring her thoughts.