“I don’t know.” He put his mouth to her palm. “We can’t ever know, can we?”

“I told you my secret,” said Genevieve in a whisper. “I wanted to draw you deep into my world. I wanted to lay myself open to you, and now I’ve done it. I’ve made myself utterly vulnerable.”

“You want me to do something in return?”

She thought about the rows of lasts in his workroom. “I want you to give up the other women. I want you all to myself.”

He laughed. “But what about you? What about your husband?”

“I’ll make sure he never finds out.”

He raised his eyebrows. “So I have to promise not to see other women but you can continue sleeping with your husband?”

“Absolutely not. I’m ending that side of my marriage. I have no intention of ever sleeping with him again.”

Sounds from the corridor outside. Muffled voices.

And now another bang—this time on the door.

Robert was standing before the door of Room 32, trying not to imagine the scene taking place on the other side of it. Shaking all over.

“Go on,” urged Felperstone.

“I can’t.”

“For God’s sake.” The detective grabbed his shoulder. “Be a man. Go in there and give the fellow what for.”

“Are you married, Mr. Felperstone?”

Felperstone gave a snort. “I’ve seen too much, my friend. I could never trust a woman.”

Robert’s hand hovered above the doorknob. “Then you can’t possibly understand what I’m going through.” And he clenched his fist and thumped once on the door.

“There’s someone out there,” said Genevieve. “What do you think they want?”

“Ignore them. They must have the wrong room.”

“Will you do it, Paolo? Will you give up the other women?”

“Enough talking. Save it for later.” And he took her by the shoulders and pressed her back against the pillows.

“What did you go and do that for?” Felperstone was beside himself. “You’ve given them a warning. They’ll cover up.”

Robert’s fists were still clenched. “I want them to cover up.” And he banged again.

“They’re not going away,” said Genevieve when the second thump came. But he was on top of her now. He was pinning her down and she didn’t want him to stop.

The door handle rattled.

“Is it locked?” she whispered.

“I can’t remember. I don’t care.”

“It’s locked.” Robert couldn’t help feeling relieved. Maybe it was all a big mistake and there was nobody in the room after all.

“Stand away, sir.” Felperstone shoved him aside.

“What are you going to do?”

“You have to kick it hard, just below the knob.” Felperstone was taking a couple of steps back, limbering up…“People barge at doors with their shoulders, but you just end up bruised and the door’s still shut.”

“Don’t,” said Robert quietly.

The detective kicked, swiftly and accurately.