He was so used to being pursued, enticed and implored to marry that he had never really considered that any unmarried girl he proposed would to hesitate before accepting him.

Now, it was as if he was seeing her for the first time, he asked,

“Are you saying categorically, Miss Lang, that you will not accept me as your husband?”

“I am afraid it will make Aunt Aline very – angry,” Honora replied, “but knowing what your – true feelings are in the matter and that I am only a convenient means of escape from – something you have no wish to do – my answer is therefore quite simply ‘no’!”

As if there was nothing more to say, she turned and walked towards the door.

At that moment it opened and the Countess came back into the room.

She was aware as she did so that she had not left the Duke and Honora together for long.

But because the girl was looking so unexpectedly lovely and very elegant in a manner she had not expected, Aline Langstone was driven by an irrepressible jealousy to prevent her from being any longer alone with the Duke.

Then, as she came into the room and saw the expression of consternation on the Duke’s face while Honora walked towards the door, she asked sharply,

“What is happening? Where are you going?”

Honora stopped and stood still and the Duke replied,

“Miss Lang has refused me!”

There was a note of surprise in his voice and yet at the same time it was as if he challenged Aline and told her that, as he had thought at first, her idea would not work.

“Refused you?” the Countess exclaimed, her voice rising shrilly.

“I am – sorry if it annoys you, Aunt Aline,” Honora said, “but – His Grace has been frank with me and told me the reason for such a – precipitate engagement – and I am sure he will be able to find – somebody far more suitable to – marry him than I am.”

She tried to speak calmly and with dignity, but she could not prevent a little tremor in her words that showed she was afraid.

Her aunt looked at her and Honora was aware of a fury in her eyes before she said,

“Come with me, Honora, I wish to speak to you alone.”

Then, as she turned, she said over her shoulder,

“Help yourself to a drink, Ulric. There is a bottle of champagne in the ice cooler.”

She did not wait for his reply, but stalked ahead of Honora to the door and there was nothing the girl could do but follow her.

Outside her aunt moved down the passage that led towards her bedroom and entered her boudoir, which was actually only two doors away from the drawing room.

Honora followed her inside, aware once again of the fragrance of carnations and lilies mingling with the French perfume that her aunt always used.

As she closed the door behind them, the Countess was standing in the middle of the room and her face was contorted with an expression of venom and anger that was terrifying.