She came from the balcony back into the room. The light from the lamps shone on her hair and the delicate fragility of her gown was silhouetted against the darkness behind her.

His eyes were on her, a strange expression on his face.

“I am glad you waited,” he said at length. “There is something I want to tell you, Skye.”

“Yes?”

It was hard to contain the joy rising in her breast.

“I have arranged with your cousin that he shall take you away tomorrow.”

For a moment she stared at him as if she could not have heard aright, and then, numbly, she repeated,

“Take me – away?”

“Yes, I have told him the truth. I told him that I forced you to become my wife against your will. It will not be difficult for you to arrange a divorce or an annulment. Your cousin will see to all the international difficulties and I will provide you with the necessary evidence. Discreetly handled, no one need ever know.”

As he spoke, Skye felt the blood drain from her cheeks, felt as if any movement was an impossibility and, because she was afraid of what she might do or say, she managed with a desperate effort to turn round and stand with her back to him, looking out over the sea.

“Do you want me – to leave?”

Her voice was almost stiffed in her throat.

“You are free to do so. Wasn’t that what you wished?”

She wanted to scream then at the very word – how she had longed and prayed to be free of him.

And now that it had come, it was too late!

So he was bored with her! She had joined the ranks of the other women who had loved him and of whom he had wearied. He had warned her and he had made it clear from the very beginning that when she no longer interested him he would set her free.

Skye gripped her fingers together until the nails bit into her flesh and then, as the sea, sky and stars suddenly swam before her eyes, she heard his voice.

“Shall we say goodbye now? Your cousin said that he would send the car back from the yacht for you.”

Skye tried to answer with dignity, but her voice was lost, choked in her throat. She could only stand there, fighting against the tears that threatened to overwhelm her.

“Why don’t you say something?”

His voice was sharp.

“I thought you would be glad to know that you are no longer a prisoner.”

“Glad – ” her voice broke on the word and now for the first time she heard him come a step nearer.

“Why do you say it like that, Skye? You are not – crying?”

It was impossible for her to answer him and after a moment he went on,

“But I have never known you cry. Turn round, let me look at you.”

She shook her head.