As the ball wasn’t a normal house-party ball, but a County Ball, the ballroom was even more extravagantly decorated than usual and, instead of a band, there was a small orchestra.

For the next hour May danced with a wide selection of partners, always aware of the person with whom Eddy was dancing.

Breathless after a polka danced with Christle, she had just decided to catch her breath by sitting out the next dance, when Eddy finally began walking towards her.

Swiftly she looked down, smoothing an evening glove that didn’t need smoothing, for what if she was mistaken and he wasn’t heading towards her, but towards someone else? How humiliating if she had happy anticipation on her face, and he walked right past her.

He didn’t. Stopping in front of her, he said with disturbing seriousness, ‘I’d like to talk to you, May.’

It wasn’t the invitation to dance she had been expecting. Fighting a crushing disappointment she said, certain of his answer, ‘About Hélène?’

‘Yes.’ He looked deeply unhappy. ‘About Hélène.’

She rose to her feet and, as the orchestra began playing a waltz, followed him from the ballroom, expecting him to come to a halt in the corridor leading away from it. Instead he led her up to the first floor, opening the door of a small sitting room. It was a woman’s room, filled with vases of flowers and mirrors and delicate china ornaments. There was a fire in the grate and the room’s purple-velvet curtains were drawn.

He said, ‘This is Madame de Falbe’s boudoir. She has given permission for me to speak with you here.’

May’s throat tightened in something close to panic. What on earth was he about to say that had to be said in such privacy? Had he decided to relinquish his rights to the throne and turn Catholic, in order to marry Hélène? Had Hélène’s parents arranged for her to marry someone else, and had she agreed to do so?

Eddy’s gold-flecked eyes held hers. ‘You do know how very much I love Hélène, don’t you, May? And that I will never, ever be able to love anyone else?’

‘Of course I do. And I know how much she loves you. What is it? What has happened? Had the two of you been given fresh hope, and has it come to nothing?’