“It was made for Queen Elizabeth and was intended as a present from the jewellers of Venice,” Lord Dorrington answered. ‘‘But something happened. Another war, I suspect. Anyway Her Majesty never received her gift. So it was bought by a Venetian family, who recently decided to sell it.”

“Thank you, Ulric. How can I ever thank you adequately for something so perfect?” Lady Cresswell asked.

She looked up at him as she spoke. There was a warmth in her voice and a little gleam of fire in her dark eyes.

Then, as she looked at him, she was suddenly very still.

Her long slim fingers seemed to tighten on the box that contained the brooch until in a voice that was hardly above a whisper she asked,

“Is it a – farewell present?”

“We have always been frank with each other,” Lord Dorrington said, “and I want my memories of you to be as perfect and as happy as our association has been.”

“I – understand.”

She turned away from him and looked blindly out into the garden, her hand still holding the jewel box.

After a moment she asked, her voice quite steady,

“Is there someone else?”

Lord Dorrington did not answer and she said quickly,

“Forgive me, I should not have asked such a question. We have never interfered with each other’s lives and I have no wish to pry or even seem curious.”

She drew a deep breath.

“I am just grateful, very grateful, for the happiness you have given me. For so much happiness, Ulric!”

“I like to think that is true,” Lord Dorrington smiled.

“It is true,” she answered. “I have never in my life, and this is the truth, been as happy as in these last six months.”

“Thank you,” Lord Dorrington said.

“You not only gave me a part of your heart,” Lady Cresswell went on, “but you opened up new vistas in my life. I am a much more fulfilled person than I have ever been before and I hope a little more intelligent.”

”You have always been a very clever woman,” he said. “That is why I would not offer you second best.”

“I understand that,” she said. “You and I have always asked for the best in life and oh, my dear, I hope you will always have it!”

“I hope so too.”

There was silence and then Lady Cresswell said,

“I think you should go, Ulric. In a few weeks I shall be able to greet you as a friend, a dear friend, whom I shall always admire and whose friendship I shall value very greatly. At the moment it is a little difficult to make the adjustment.”

“I understand,” he said, “and thank you, Leoni, for the beauty you have brought into my life. I shall never forget it.”

He did not touch her. He only stood looking at her as if taking in the picture she made.