‘I’m sorry, Verity, and you are a wonderful girl for someone, just not me. I don’t fit into the requirements you demand of a husband – you know that as well as I do.’

‘I know nothing of the sort.’ Verity took a long pull at her cigarette in its bejewelled holder, letting the smoke drift out of her small nostrils before she added, ‘You are coming up to scratch very well,’ and smiling as she put her hand over his. ‘You’ve been a bachelor too long and it’s natural to be a little nervous at the thought of having your wings clipped.’

Her voice had been light and teasing but her blue eyes were like chips of frosted glass, and Edward knew the signs. She was furiously angry inside but, like the consummate actress he now knew her to be, hiding it well. Again he said, ‘I’m sorry but I mean it. I can’t marry you and believe me, this is the right thing for both of us. I could never make you happy, Verity.’

‘Spare me the platitudes.’ For the first time her tone revealed what she was feeling, but when she went on her voice was level again. ‘We are going to get married, Edward. I will not be held up as a laughing stock, I tell you that now.’

‘And nor would I want you to be. You can tell everyone that you ended the engagement – you can say whatever you like and I won’t disagree. Paint me as black as you like.’

‘How very gracious of you.’ Her voice, although controlled, was belied by the expression on her face. ‘You do this to me and you will regret it, I’ll make sure of it, and my father will too. He’s a very powerful man, Edward, as you know. He can be a bad enemy.’

‘I can’t stop either of you doing your worst.’

There was a moment of deafening silence before she hissed, ‘It’s her, isn’t it? That little shop girl in England you told me about?’

‘This is nothing to do with Ruby and she is not a shop girl as you know full well but the owner of a successful business.’

‘Making clothes to sell in her shop. A shop girl.’

Her face was ugly now, white lines showing round her mouth and her eyes narrowed. He shook his head, standing up as he said, ‘Have it your own way but I repeat, this is nothing to do with her. There is no chance Ruby and I will get together, Verity. And I mean it when I say you deserve someone who will make you happy and I could never do that.’