‘A letter has come for Miss Hélène,’ he told them. ‘From England. She went quite pale and I think she almost fainted. Madame is out, but I think someone should go to her in case it’s bad news.’

Annette was on her feet at once. ‘I’ll go. Where is she?’

‘In the morning room,’ replied Didier.

Annette hurried to the morning room but when she found it empty, she ran upstairs to Hélène’s bedroom and tapped on the door. No reply came from within and she knocked again before trying the handle, only to find the door was locked. She called Hélène’s name but received no reply.

Hélène heard her knock, but she was beyond answering. She had just opened and read her letter and her world had crashed about her ears. She couldn’t speak. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she understood what he had written. No my darling girl, the opening words she loved so much – it simply began,

Dear Hélène,

The letter was short, but its content felt like a hammer blow, and she sank down onto her bed, overcome with a physical pain in her chest.

When you stopped answering my letters, I realised that you must have changed your mind about our engagement. Obviously you thought a clean break was for the best and so, though I don’t understand what made your wishes change, I respected your decision and ceased writing to you.

This is the last letter you will have from me but I felt the necessity of letting you know that, at the behest of my family, I am now married to a young lady whose family land is neighbour to our own. As I have known her since childhood, it seemed a sensible way forward and both families are pleased with this union.

The time I spent with you at Belair will always be precious to me, but I can see now that it would have been difficult for you to uproot yourself and move to another country where you knew no one and didn’t speak the language, and I understand your change of heart.

I wish you every happiness, Hélène. Think kindly of me, as I do of you.

Yours, Rupert Chalfont

Hélène cried until she had no more tears and lay, exhausted, on her bed. The door was still locked, and hearing nothing from inside, Annette was terrified that Hélène might have harmed herself. What on earth could have been in that letter to provoke such a reaction? She hurried down to the kitchen to consult with Madame Sauze as to what they should do. They both went back upstairs, but no amount of knocking elicited a response.

‘Should we break open the door?’ Annette cried. ‘What can she be doing in there?’

The decision was taken for them by the arrival home of Madame St Clair. Immediately she heard what had happened she rushed up the stairs and banged on Hélène’s door. When there was no response, she sent Annette to fetch Pierre from the stables. ‘And tell him to bring a crowbar,’ she called after her.