‘For you, I’ll knock down mountains,’ said Collis.

The clock chimed, and Delphine said, ‘I have to get back to help Mother. I promised I would only stay for two or three minutes. Oh, Collis. Oh, my darling.’

She took his face between her hands and lavished him with kisses. He felt as if he couldn’t stand this parting moment any longer, as if the sad ecstasy of it was too much, and yet he couldn’t bring himself to push her away from him. He closed his eyes and kissed her, and prayed that this one second would go on for ever, and that he would never have to open his eyes and realise that the time had actually come to say goodbye.

‘Oh, Collis,’ she panted. ‘Oh, Collis, oh my God, I can’t bear to see you go. Oh, Collis, my love.’

‘Delphine,’ he murmured. ‘My beautiful Delphine.’

She kissed him more fiercely now, until he could taste blood in his mouth along with the tears and the tantalising perfume she wore. She pressed closer, and her hand worked its way under his vest, so that she could caress him through his thin silk shirt and his cotton underwear.

‘Delphine,’ he said, trying to push her away. ‘Delphine, you mustn’t.’

‘Mustn’t what, my darling? Mustn’t what?’

‘Your mother — she’s bound to come see what you’re doing—’

‘Nonsense. She’s too busy with that stupid cook of ours. Oh, Collis, you’re delicious. You taste like nothing I ever tasted before.’

‘For God’s sake, Delphine, this is more than I can bear.’

Her eyes closed, she took his hand in hers and raised her gown at the side, right above the top of her blue-gartered stockings, until Collis could see the pale skin of her bare thigh. She pressed his hand against it, so that he could feel the soft warmth of her flesh, and she wouldn’t let him go. Her neck was arched back now, and she was breathing in soft gasps through her pink, parted lips.

Collis was beyond caring whether Winifred was going to return from the kitchen or not. His blood felt as if it were roaring through his veins, around and around, in a vivifying rush, until his cheeks burned. All he was aware of was Delphine, soft and alive, kissing him as no lady nor whore had ever kissed him before. All he was aware of was her slippery, electrified gown, the warmth of her body, and her perfumed hair. Her pearl and amethyst cross blurred brightly in front of his eyes, as if he were dreaming, and waking, and then dreaming again.

Panting softly, she pulled his captive hand still further, into the warmth between her thighs. He couldn’t resist now. He was caught, hypnotised by her rhythmic breathing. The sensation was overwhelming. He couldn’t have released himself even if he’d wanted to.