Once outside the parlour door, Kitty paused to rake her fingers through her hair and draw herself upright, then with what dignity she could muster she entered the room.

‘Oh, darling, how are you?’

His touching look of concern shocked her.

‘I can’t begin to apologise enough for what happened last night, but please know that it doesn’t alter the way I feel about you. Also, I want you to know it all came about by accident. You see, Mr Travers visited the studio one day and happened to see the photographs I had taken of you which I had foolishly left lying about. I know I should never have taken those particular ones without your permission, but they were meant to be for my eyes only.’

‘That’s not what you said last night,’ Kitty accused him. ‘And you admitted to drugging me!’

‘Yes, I did,’ he agreed, looking shamefaced. ‘But I only wanted to make you feel more relaxed. I didn’t realise the drug would affect you quite so badly. Please forgive me.’ He pointed to a huge box on the floor. ‘Look, I bought you a present.’

She did so want to forgive him but the memory of the night before was still very fresh in her mind. ‘What is it?’ she asked.

He smiled and her heart skipped a beat.

‘Why don’t you open it and see? I’m not sure that Ruby and Miss Fox will approve of it, but I hope you will. If you don’t, I can always take it back.’

She dithered for a moment but then curiosity got the better of her and she bent to lift the lid. And then she gave a joyous cry as a tiny bundle of fur launched itself at her.

‘It’s a Cavalier King Charles puppy,’ Richard informed her as she tried to hold it at arm’s length. It was furiously licking every inch of her it could reach, with its tiny tail wagging fifteen to the dozen and Kitty’s heart was lost.

‘Oh … it’s quite beautiful. Is it a boy or a girl?’

‘A girl – well, I suppose I should say a bitch really.’

Kitty laughed as the little body snuggled into her. ‘I shall call her Tallulah,’ she declared as she and the pup surveyed each other. ‘Thank you. We had dogs back at Treetops but I never had one of my very own before.’

‘So, am I forgiven then?’

Staring at him over the dog’s head she said, ‘If I say yes, what will happen now?’

‘Unfortunately, we – or should I say you – will have to continue to be nice to Mr Travers and his friends from time to time. We will lose everything if you don’t. Your music-hall bookings, your modelling assignments … But it won’t be so bad. You’ll get used to it and I assume Ruby has explained how you can prevent—’

Kitty flushed and nodded rapidly. ‘Yes, she has.’

‘Good, then let’s try and put what happened last night behind us. You must know how much I care about you and how jealous I was to have to let Edward …’ He came to a halt. ‘But let’s not go into that, eh? Just know that whatever happens from now on, you are my girl forever.’