“It’s all right,” Pat said. “I considered it as a possibility, in a theoretical sort of way, but not because of any feelings I have for Jimmy. I’d love to live somewhere like this, to run this estate, and I think I’d do it well, but the husband would be the means to an end. I did wonder if Jimmy might want that sort of business partnership because he’s never seemed terribly interested in love affairs, but it seems he just hadn’t met the right woman.”

Fen gave her a look. Pat winced. “Sorry, that was trite. But you must agree, if he hardly seemed interested in women before and then fell in love with you more or less at first sight, that says something.”

“It could say a number of things. Such as that the woman he really wanted simply wasn’t interested, so he might as well make an advantageous match—”

“No, I am not having this,” Pat said, setting off walking again. “It’s honestly not right. I may not be one for romance but I’m sure I’d have known if Jimmy thought of me that way. And he’s Bill’s best pal; he would have said something. You’re wrong there.”

Fen sighed. “I’m not sure if I’m pleased to hear you say so.”

“Why not?”

“I was preparing to renounce him nobly. Nobody could blame me for breaking an engagement to a man who promptly married someone else.”

“You’re thinking seriously of breaking the engagement?” Do. He’s all wrong for you. He won’t appreciate you. You ought not be weighted down by men and marriage and motherhood. Pat bit all that back. “Should you not talk to him first, have that frank conversation?”

Fen didn’t answer for a while. They paced on together, rounding the end of the lake and heading back up the other side, towards the house.

“The thing is...” Fen said at last. “This will probably sound terribly self-centred, but I am so tired of not being seen. I want someone to be interested in what I want, and who I am. Not all the time, but just a little. Just to notice. Just to talk to me instead of flirting with rich Peter Carruth’s daughter, or expecting me to sit and listen while they speak. It’s why I got engaged the first time. He paid me so much attention and it felt like nothing I’d ever experienced. It was an awfully good technique, if he’d been more careful about being overheard. And Jimmy...well, he’s terribly nice, but he isn’t looking at me. He hasn’t since I arrived. And if he isn’t interested in doing that, I don’t want to ask him to. I oughtn’t have to ask for the most basic acknowledgement of my existence.”