“Can I wear the ring today?”
“Of course. It is yours. There will be a copy with me later. The price of that ring is its history. The value is that it makes you my wife-to-be. You are no less a woman and no less loved than the Empress of France.”
They took a breakfast of kedgeree in the orangery which Mrs Travis had organized specially. She rejoiced in the rich Yorkshire tea that Spencer now drank with equal pleasure. As he drove her back to the police house her iPhone rang.
“Shannon, this is Jasmine. You said we need to talk. Let’s do it.”
Her tone was clipped and formal but there was a strain in her voice.
“Come to my office, two o’clock.”
“What do you intend?”
“That depends on you. I’ve no taste for drama so we’ll talk business. Be there.”
Shannon clicked off. Spencer glanced acr
