She didn’t know if she was being grossly unfair, but nevertheless, it gave her the strength she needed to draw herself up straight. ‘You are entitled to believe as you see fit.’

‘And that’s it? After all this time, that’s it?’ He turned on his heel, walking back to the car and opening the driver’s door before saying grimly, ‘I hope the life you have chosen brings you contentment, but I fear one day you will wake up to find yourself a little old lady all alone except for a cat or two. And don’t worry about seeing Clarissa – I won’t be visiting Foreburn again so there will be no danger of running into me.’

She stared at him, her eyes huge in her white face, but made no reply, and after a moment he slid into the vehicle and started the engine.

In spite of the lateness of the hour and the bitter chill, she continued to stand there for some minutes after the sound of the car’s engine had died away. It was over, not that it had ever really begun, but he had gone and she knew he would not return.

A numbness had settled on her senses, and once she was inside the shop and had locked the door, she didn’t immediately go through and make her way upstairs to the flat. Instead she walked to one of the full-length, gilt-framed cheval mirrors and stared at herself. The mirror was a fine piece of furniture. The shaped top, the stand with turned finials and brass side screw knobs on shaped legs with carved knees and claw-pad feet was an object of quality – but then so was every item in the room. The French carved upholstered chairs and small gilt-wood tables inset with serpentine-yellow mottled marble tops that were dotted around on the thick pile carpet screamed luxury, as did the cream-and-rose brocade wallpaper and wall mirrors decorated with acanthus-scrolled designs. The same taste and attention to detail was reflected in the adjoining fitting room with its small cloakroom and carpeted floor; all was comfortable and discreet.

Ruby turned from the beautifully dressed woman in the mirror and glanced round the quiet interior, the glow of achievement she usually felt at her surroundings absent for once.

She had opened the shop within two months of signing on the dotted line, and following Clarissa’s advice, the sign above the door read ‘Madame Beaucaire’.