“I cannot really believe – you are saying this to me,” Yamina whispered. “It is so perfect, it is part of the sunshine, part of the music of the waves, but – I have to – persuade you that you are – making a terrible mistake!”

She moved from the shelter of his arms and added,

“Let me go away until the war is ended. We can write to each other – and then if our love withstands the test of time – that will be the moment to speak of marriage.”

Lord Castleford laughed. It was the gay laugh of a man without care.

“My precious! Do you really think that I would let you out of my sight after what has happened already?” he enquired. “Look at the adventures you have been involved in. Supposing the Turkish mob had found you and believed you to be a spy? Supposing you had not escaped from the Sultan’s harem? No! You need someone to look after you and that is what I intend to do.”

“I will not – marry you,” Yamina said. “I will be – your mistress. I will wait for you. I will do anything you like, but I will not be instrumental in depriving the diplomatic world of a man as significant as you.”

“No man is indispensable,” Lord Castleford answered, “except to the woman who loves him. Could you find someone to replace me? Answer me that question.”

Yamina gripped her fingers together.

“You know I could never find anyone – I could give my love to, having once known you. You are right in saying this is different. This love we have for each other is – divine and has perhaps existed for thousands of years before we met again. But because it is so – special, it will not matter if we wait a – little.”

“We are not going to wait!” Lord Castleford asserted firmly. “The Elchi believes that Sebastopol will fall in two or three months’ time, which means there will be peace by Christmas. But I am not concerned. I want you, Yamina, now and I intend to have you! Not as my mistress, my beautiful darling, but as my wife!”

“What can I say to you? How can I convince you – that you are making a mistake?” Yamina asked frantically.

He put his arms round her and turned her face up to his.

“This is the only argument I am prepared to listen to!” he said and kissed her.

It seemed to Yamina that his kiss had something very spiritual and sacred in it, as if he dedicated himself to her.

Then, as she thrilled at the touch of his lips and felt her body move against his, she knew she had no more arguments, no more protests to make.

She loved him and their love carried them away into the sky where there were no problems, no difficulties, only a diffusion of light that came from the Gods themselves.