He reined in the team, threw the reins to his groom and jumped down from his phaeton.
“Walk the horses, John,” he said and hurried down the pavement.
Sylvina was actually on the steps when he reached her side.
Hearing someone approach she looked up casually, only to feel as if her heart turned over in her breast.
“Y–you!”
The word came stammeringly from between her lips.
“Did you really think you could escape me?” the Marquis asked.
“I don’t – know what – ” Sylvina began incoherently.
“Shall we talk inside?” he asked quietly.
Almost before she had realised what was happening, she had entered the house and the Marquis had closed the door behind him.
Somehow bereft of words she preceded him up the narrow staircase into the drawing room on the first floor.
Again he turned to close
