“Surely you are not frightened?” the Marquis asked. “Your Nanny will be here and the house is full of servants.”
“I must sound to you as if I was Caro’s age,” Perdita apologised. “Go and enjoy yourself and, if it is more convenient to stay two nights, I shall quite understand. I could not have done anything with you tonight anyway, because as it will be Nana’s first evening and I want to help her with her children.”
She thought that the Marquis was about to say something, but then he changed his mind.
“You will be all right,” he said firmly. “Goodbye, Perdita.”
“Goodbye,” she answered.
She thought that he might kiss her hand, but he only smiled and she turned to leave the room feeling in some absurd fashion somewhat forlorn.
She hoped, as she left the library, that the Marquis might
