Daisy was about to agree but Becket said severely, ‘I do not like my wife performing in public’

‘It’s not public,’ protested Daisy. ‘We’re with friends.’

Becket shook his head and said firmly, ‘I’m sorry. It would not be suitable.’

A vision of the chirpy, cheery Bernie rose in Daisy’s mind and again she felt that suffocating feeling of being trapped.

Upstairs, at the dinner table, the earl said to his daughter, ‘Captain Cathcart will be arriving tomorrow. He wanted to come and I could hardly refuse.’

Rose felt a jolt of fear. She knew Harry was probably going to propose marriage. This is what she had wanted. Why did she not want it now?

After dinner, she sent a footman with a note asking Daisy to join her.

When Daisy entered, Rose hugged her. ‘I miss you.’

‘Me, too.’

‘Captain Cathcart is calling tomorrow. I think he means to ask for my hand in marriage.’

‘There you are,’ said Daisy bracingly. ‘We’ll both be married ladies.’

‘I don’t think I want to get married,’ said Rose.

‘Go on with you! The pair of you are so well suited.’

‘I’m sick of danger, Daisy. I’m sick of being frightened. If I marry Harry, I will be drawn into his life.’

‘You don’t need to be,’ said Daisy.

‘Then what if, after we get married, another Dolores comes along?’

‘Or another Roger,’ Daisy pointed out.

‘Oh, that was such a mistake. But I would never have known how weak he was if that terrible woman hadn’t threatened to kill us.’

‘How do you mean, “weak”?’

‘He wanted to leave me with her to get shot as long as he could escape.’

‘Well, they’re not all like the captain.’

‘True. Or your Becket.’

Daisy leaned forward and poked the fire. A wind had risen and was howling in the chimney. ‘I’m in trouble, Rose, and I don’t know what to do.’

‘Why? What is the matter?’

‘I don’t love him any more. I’ll have to spend the rest of my days in the gloomy flat in Bloomsbury, having one baby after another, and that’s if I can have babies. Who knows? It might be one miscarriage after another. I’ll be an old woman before my time.’

‘Daisy, dear Daisy. You’ve had a very bad shock. After a bit of rest and quiet, you’ll feel differently.’

‘No, I won’t. I know I won’t. I’m frightened of beginning to hate him. Divorce isn’t for the likes of us. Unless he dies, I’m stuck with him.’

‘You can hardly kill him,’ said Rose.

‘Can’t I?’ howled Daisy. ‘Just you wait and see. And there’s worse.’

‘Than wanting to kill your husband?’

‘I’ve met someone else. It’s Bernie King who works for the captain.’

‘His new servant?’

‘No, his new detective. Oh, Rose, he’s light and easy and cockney like myself. He’s fun. He makes me laugh.’

‘Daisy, listen to me. It is all a reaction to what you have gone through.’

‘Do you think you could ask the captain to suggest to Becket that I go out to work? I’m sure that would make all the difference.’