‘Certainly, monsieur,’ replied Aristide. ‘There is, of course, Monsieur and Madame Barrineau; Monsieur Lucas, his sister Madame Diane Marelle and her husband Colonel Marelle, and his other sister, Mademoiselle Lucie, not yet out of the schoolroom. Monsieur Barrineau’s mother also lives in the house, but she seldom leaves her room these days.’

‘But she will attend the wedding?’

Aristide shrugged. ‘Who can tell, monsieur? She is very old.’

‘I see.’ Rupert made a mental note of all the names so far. ‘And are there any other guests staying at the house?’

‘Madame’s sister and her husband,’ replied Aristide, ‘that’s Monsieur and Madame Beaumont, and some cousins of Monsieur Barrineau, Mademoiselle Pauline Roubert and her sister Mademoiselle Mia, two unmarried ladies of a certain age. You will meet them all at dinner.’

Feeling he now had a better knowledge of the household, Rupert dismissed Aristide, clutching his guinea, and began to unpack his bag. Though he had no valet with him, he was travelling light and he was well used to looking after himself. He had all the clothes required for a gentleman staying at a country house for a few days. He would not disgrace Lucas, nor make him regret his impulsive invitation. Perhaps if he decided to stay away for more than another week or so, he would send home and ask his man Parker to bring him more clothes.

The view from his window, when he crossed to look out, was wide and far reaching. Montmichel boasted beautiful gardens and an extensive park. Had he known it, Suzanne Barrineau had wanted to hold the wedding breakfast and reception here at Montmichel. ‘So much more suitable,’ she had murmured to her husband, but Emile and Rosalie were determined to host their daughter’s wedding at their own home, and eventually, encouraged by both her son and her husband, Suzanne had acquiesced.

‘There is absolutely nothing wrong with Belair,’ Lucas had said. ‘It’s where Clarice wants our wedding celebrations to be.’ And if that was what Clarice wanted, as far as Lucas was concerned, there would be no question of anything else. However, after further discussion it was decided that a ball should be given in honour of the young couple at Montmichel the day after the wedding, and Suzanne had thrown herself into the preparations for that. She was determined that the Barrineaux’ contribution to the festivities would not be second best.

Rupert decided now, as he looked out into the beautiful summer’s day beyond his window, that he would go outside and explore the garden. He had no wish to remain cooped up in his room until Lucas’s return. Thus it was that Suzanne saw him wandering through her rose garden sometime before her son came home and another black mark was chalked up against him.

That evening the dinner party was a convivial affair. Rupert found himself seated by Lucas’s sister Diane Marelle and found her extremely good company. On his other side was Madame Beaumont, his hostess’s sister. These two women he set out to charm, knowing that to Suzanne he was already persona non grata. The other ladies at the table, the Roubert cousins, remained almost silent, only answering in soft voices if someone addressed them directly, and at the far end, sitting between her father and Lucas, was the daughter of the house, Lucie. Pretty enough, Rupert thought wickedly, worth a moment’s dalliance perhaps, enough to worry Madame Barrineau. He treated Lucie to a smile, which she returned shyly before lowering her eyes as a young girl should.