With a disgruntled sigh at being sent to her room just like a child, Louise went back upstairs and Rosalie returned to Emile’s study to tell him what Louise had said.

‘They took the path across the fields to the village.’

‘But where would they go when they got there?’ snapped Emile. ‘Who in the village would take them in?’

‘I doubt if they went to anyone there, but they could have gone to the station and caught a train. I believe there’s an early one to Paris. So perhaps they really have gone to the Avenue Ste Anne.’

‘Hmm,’ Emile grunted. ‘Well, I suppose when Pierre gets back he’d better go and make enquiries at the station.’

‘I think he’s back already,’ Rosalie said. ‘I’ll go and find him and send him to ask.’ She left Emile sitting at his desk in his study and went down the passageway to the servants’ quarters in search of Pierre.

Moments later, there was a crash of the knocker on the front door, and before Didier could go in answer to its summons, Simon Barnier pushed it open and strode into the hallway. Handing his coat, hat and cane to Didier, he demanded, ‘Where will I find Monsieur St Clair?’

‘Good morning, sir,’ replied Didier diplomatically. ‘Monsieur St Clair is in his study, if you wish me to announce you.’

Simon gave a curt nod and Didier led the way to Emile’s study and, tapping on the door, gave Simon’s name. Emile looked up and knew he needed Rosalie at his side.

‘Please ask Madame to join us in here, Didier,’ he said, and with an inclination of his head, the butler went in search of her.

The next half hour was not one that Rosalie would willingly repeat. Simon’s anger at Hélène’s disappearance was explosive. He blamed them for not keeping her under lock and key overnight.

‘You seem to have no control over your daughter,’ he raged. ‘I will not have a disobedient wife. She needs discipline to make her understand her place. And that she’ll get from me!’

If that is how you have been speaking to her, Rosalie thought, I’m not surprised she’s run away. But she kept this thought to herself; there was no point in enraging Simon Barnier any further. Even Emile had no idea how to handle his furious future son-in-law. He had more sympathy with him than Rosalie did, but he had no more idea of where Hélène had gone than she had.

‘We have telegraphed our son to ask him to visit our Paris house,’ he explained, ‘to see if she has taken refuge there.’

‘Refuge?’ Simon’s voice was icy.

‘Or whether she has gone to visit her brother,’ Rosalie put in smoothly.

Simon rounded on her. ‘Wherever she has gone, madame,’ he said fiercely, ‘she has put me in an intolerable position.’

‘Yes,’ agreed Rosalie reluctantly. ‘I’m afraid she has… and us too.’

‘I hardly think the two are comparable,’ said Simon, getting to his feet. ‘You will please contact me the moment you hear from her. Her desertion, for I can only call it that, will be general knowledge within twenty-four hours and I shall be a laughing stock! I will, of course, forbid my servants to speak of it on pain of dismissal, and I trust you will do the same, but you know what servants are for gossiping about their betters, a hint here, a wink there. It will not be contained for long and I want her to be back and married before this scandal breaks wide open.’