‘Probably,’ Rupert replied vaguely. ‘I will send for him in due course. In the meantime, Monsieur Rocher, no doubt your man Robert will be able to look after me when I require him.’

‘Of course, monsieur, you have only to ring.’

‘Thank you. I think that is all for now.’

‘Of course, monsieur.’ Rocher took the hint and, shooing the lad out of the room, followed him downstairs.

Once Rupert had settled into his room, he decided to take a stroll along the river, enjoying the warmth of the late spring evening and feeling content with the world. He took his dinner in a cheerful brasserie, enjoying the hubbub around him as he ate a dish of bouillabaisse followed by a filet de boeuf washed down with a bottle of Burgundy. Paris, he decided, as he walked back through the still-busy streets to the hotel, was definitely a more welcoming city than the grey London he’d left behind.

He slept particularly well that night and after breakfast he went to nearest telegraph office to send a wire to Lucas Barrineau, announcing his arrival in Paris and accepting the invitation to his wedding.

The telegram caused some consternation at the Barrineau home, Montmichel.

‘But who is this man, Lucas?’ demanded his mother, Suzanne. ‘Why is he coming to your wedding? I have never heard of him!’ At that moment her husband came into the room and immediately Suzanne turned to him. ‘Louis,’ she cried in agitation, ‘Lucas has invited some complete stranger to stay here at Montmichel for his wedding and the man has not only accepted but has already arrived in Paris from London. What are we going to do?’

‘We are going to tell the St Clairs that we’ve had a late acceptance,’ replied Louis calmly, ‘and ask them to lay another place on the family table.’

‘But he’s not family!’ wailed his wife.

‘No, chérie, but if Lucas has invited him, we must make him welcome. He won’t know anyone else, so he must sit with us. I am sure Madame Rosalie will understand when you explain the situation to her.’

‘I believe she has taken her daughters to Paris,’ protested Suzanne. ‘She is not at home.’

‘She will be back well before the wedding, Maman,’ remarked Lucas. ‘I’m sure it will not be a problem. Rupert Chalfont is charming, I know you will all like him as much as I do.’ He gave his mother his most dazzling smile. ‘Surely you’re able to do this for me. We cannot retract the invitation now, and indeed I have no wish to do so.’

Suzanne was less than pleased with him, but she did as her son asked and promised that when Rosalie St Clair was back from Paris she would pay her a visit and explain.

Chapter 6

‘What do you mean, Rupert’s gone to a wedding in France?’ demanded Sir Philip Chalfont. ‘I thought he was in London.’

‘He was, sir,’ replied Justin. ‘I saw him two days ago, and that’s when he told me he’d been invited to a wedding in France and that he’d decided to go.’