‘I mean to say yes.’

‘What?’ Mrs Shipley-Thomas’s face contorted with shock.

‘I intend to accept his proposal. You’re quite right. I am desperate to avoid becoming an old maid. And I can think of nothing more exciting than going to live in a faraway place and marry a handsome man.’

‘You’re not serious. You can’t possibly do that. I was only teasing you about being an old maid. I didn’t mean it. Don’t be hasty. At least give it some thought. Malaya is a long way away.’ She gripped the edge of the table, the blood draining from her face. ‘Besides – what will become of me?’

‘You’ve plenty of time to find another paid companion. I won’t be leaving until the end of June. Mr Barrington has to make the travel arrangements.’ Evie picked up her copy of The Lady and handed it across the table. ‘There are plenty of promising candidates advertising their services in here.’

Heart hammering, she left the room, her dignity only slightly impacted by tripping and stumbling on the rug.

Safely in her bedroom, Evie leaned against the closed door, waiting for her pulse to stop racing and her chest heaving. What had she done? It wasn’t too late to go back downstairs and tell Mrs Shipley-Thomas she’d had second thoughts. Her employer would be relieved and Evie could remain in her safe cosy world where nothing out of the ordinary ever happened. A short business-like letter to Douglas Barrington and the episode would be forgotten and her life could go on as before.

She moved over to her desk and took up a piece of writing paper and her fountain pen.

Dear Douglas

Thank you for your kind thoughts regarding the loss of my father. His death was a great shock but I have had nearly nine years to adjust to life without him and my mother.

Thank you also for your offer of marriage. I regret I am unable to accept

Evie struggled to come up with an acceptable basis to refuse her cousin’s proposal. She could hardly write because I am scared stiff, yet in truth that was the only reason for her reticence.

The death of her father, his decision to take his own life rather than face the consequences when he was caught up in a financial scandal, had knocked Evie for six. Even now, years later, she missed him and despite what he had done, grieved for him and felt abandoned. When her mother had wasted no time after his death before joining her long-term lover in the United States, Evie’s world contracted further. While she and her mother had always had a strained and distant relationship, finding herself completely alone had not been easy. Her dreams of marrying, or of pursuing her education, were shattered. Becoming a lady’s companion had been based on necessity not inclination.

Hands propped under her chin, she tried to think it through. It was foolish to let annoyance at Mrs Shipley-Thomas’s insensitivity push her into a decision with lifelong consequences. Something so momentous required a more measured and rational approach. She must set aside her emotions and let her head rule her. Taking another piece of paper, she drew a line down the centre and headed one column Reasons to Accept and the other, Reasons to Refuse, and began to fill in the spaces beneath.