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quickly when the sun goes down.’
    Subject closed. She tried another. ‘I noticed Saule drive off past the house, where does that lead?’
    ‘ There’s an old coach-house, it’s been converted into garaging and Saule lives in the flat above.’
    ‘ He’s an interesting character.’
    ‘ He certainly is.’ The tone of his reply firmly closed that subject too.
    Oh well, she thought. Just then a beautiful long-legged Siamese cat sauntered along the terrace stopping to regard Lucy with its piercing blue eyes. She stretched out a hand to stroke it but it moved out of reach, gave her a baleful look and disappeared into the house.
    ‘Don’t mind Silk, he doesn’t much like strangers. Actually, he doesn’t much like anyone. He was Helena’s cat and no one else seems to measure up, including me,’ Marcus told her.
    They sat enjoying the Pimm’s and the last of the day’s warmth. They discussed the garden, both surprised at the extent of each other’s knowledge. Something in common other than eating and drinking, they thought to themselves.
    It did suddenly cool off and they made their way inside to eat. There was, Marcus explained, a very formal dining room but he had thought they would be more comfortable eating in the large kitchen , which suited Lucy.
    The atmosphere during the meal was relaxed, and she found as long as she didn’t ask personal questions Marcus was a charming and entertaining companion. The food was wonderful; gazpacho, the creamiest of asparagus risottos and lemon syllabub. She found herself thinking how bad could it be, a rich attractive husband who could cook up a storm too? She was having a lovely time even if it was just the teeniest bit like spending the evening with her dad.
    Marcus served the coffee, sat back and asked, ‘So Lucy, what was it you wanted to discuss?’
    Suddenly shy, Lucy didn’t know quite where to start.
    ‘Well…’ she began, but the words just wouldn’t come.
    He smiled, amused at her discomfort. ‘Lucy, talk to me.’
    She took a deep breath and launched into it. ‘Ok, just how do you see this working out, Marcus? To be honest I don’t think I’ve got the face to just announce to my friends and family that I’m about to marry an older man who I’ve only just met. My friends would be outraged, one already is, and my parents deeply unhappy. I know they would all think less of me. Perhaps that shouldn’t matter, but it does to me.’
    ‘ Of course it does,’ he replied. ‘I’m not suggesting we get married next week, Lucy. We need time to get to know each other, to be sure we can make it work. I was thinking of a period of perhaps three or four months, during which we would conduct a very public courtship to let the world at large get used to the idea and spend some time together, privately, here and at my country house. I have a charity ball to attend Friday evening, it seems like a good place to start and then perhaps you would like to spend the following weekend with me at Graylings?’
    She was relieved that he understood her concerns and had what seemed like a sensible plan. ‘That all sounds fine. My father is marrying, yet again, next month and I was thinking it would be a good opportunity for you to meet everyone.’
    ‘ I look forward to it. Next?’
    ‘ About children, how many were you thinking of?’ she asked, feeling the colour flood into her cheeks.
    ‘ Worried I’ll want to turn you into a baby making machine?’ he said with a laugh.
    She laughed too, but came back with, ‘No, the opposite actually. Should the first one be a boy, would you want to stop there? I’ve always wanted lots of children, I had thought by the age I am now I would already have two or three. Of course it takes two to tango.’
    ‘ Was this part of your troubles with Laurent?’ he asked.
    ‘ We never got around to discussing it, although it’s hard to imagine Laurent surrounded by children. No, our problems were much more complicated than that. Still,