He had told her nothing of his intention to accompany the Premier on this tour. And she was to believe he had only learned of it yesterday? Was everything he now said to her a lie?

For a moment Eleanor could not speak. The words rose in her throat, but they were all in a jumble, choking her one moment and then tumbling out any which way: ‘You accused me, Alasdair, of being a hypocrite for something I had done last year. You said—’

He rounded on her, the fury returned. His eyes seemed black to her, when no one’s eyes were ever really black, were they? And yet they looked so, at this moment.

‘I said I would not discuss it!’

He threw down his tie. He leaped forward and in that instant she was fearful, but he brushed past her and stood on the landing and called out for the maid. ‘Alice!’

‘Surely I have a right to know of what I am accused!’

‘Take the trunk downstairs and get a cab. I leave at once.’

‘Alasdair! I have a right—’

He spun around to face her and there was fury still but also, she saw, dismay, disbelief, hurt. He looked as a man might whose wife has let him down in the most profound way, and now she wanted to shake him, to strike him, for it was she—she who had been wronged!

‘I saw you!’ he cried out, taking her by the shoulders then at once letting her go. ‘With that man. With Drummond-Smith—’

She gasped, let out a laugh.

‘—with my own eyes. Your … liaison! My God, at Parliament House!’ He turned away but at once turned back again, clenched both fists tightly of front of his face. ‘Did you really believe I would not realise it? How could you be so stupid, Eleanor, so indiscreet? How many people, do you think, saw you come out of that room with him that night?’

Eleanor stared at him. She shook her head. ‘You are mad! There was no liaison! How could you think such a thing?’

‘The man has letters that you have written to him!’

‘But he cannot, for I have never written a letter to that man. Ever. He is lying, Alasdair. He has deceived you—’

‘Ha!’

‘—because I rebuffed him, and in no uncertain terms. He threatened—oh, I did not take the threat seriously at the time, but here is what he has done: poisoned you against me with these lies!’ It was as simple as that and she laughed, though it was a bitter laugh.

‘He has letters!’

As though she had not spoken. As though Alasdair had not heard a single word. It struck her, then: ‘But this was your excuse, wasn’t it? All the excuse you needed to be with this woman! Your justification for an affair.’

‘No!’ He walked away from her, shaking his head. ‘No. You cannot deceive me anymore, Eleanor.’