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harshly. 'It's all been a terrible
    mistake, and it's you he really loves? And all you have to do is go back in
    that room looking like
    the Queen of Elfland and he'll be yours for ever more?'
    'He did love me,' Catriona whispered, her lips trembling. 'He did. I know it.'
    'I daresay he did in his way for a while—if that's any consolation. But I can
    promise you this, even if he did love you as you believed, he still wouldn't
    give up Helen's money for you. And Marion wouldn't let him either.'
    'You devil,' she said very distinctly.
    He gave a slight laugh. 'Poor Cinderella! All the way to the ball to find
    Prince Charming's turned into a pumpkin, and you have to go home with
    Bluebeard.'
    Catriona stared down at the handkerchief she was still holding. It had his
    initials in the corner, she noticed,-and she recalled that Jeremy's had been
    the same. Her eyes began to prick again.
    'Oh no,' Jason Lord said decisively, and stood up. 'I've had enough of that,
    Miss Muir. You've probably raised the humidity in here already and killed
    off Marion's prize specimens. Now we're going to do some straight talking.'
    'What is there to say?' she said hopelessly. 'I just can't understand why you
    brought me here—like this.' She touched the shimmering length of her skirt
    with distaste.
    'Then you're even less perceptive than I gave you credit for,' he said coldly.
    'That charming piece of nonsense you're wearing is a disguise. Do you think
    anyone here tonight gave you a second glance except as an extremely
    attractive young woman? If I'd just given you the address and allowed you
    simply to turn up in those damned jeans and that rucksack, it would have
    made a nine days' wonder for all of them in there. Is that what you wanted?
    Everyone staring at you, and laughing—because they would have laughed,
    make no mistake about that, my child. Okay, so you've been humiliated, but

    no one knows that except the two of us. Oh—and Jeremy, I think,' he added
    sarcastically as she turned startled eyes towards him. 'I think he caught your
    misguided exit just now. He looked as if he'd just been pole- axed anyway.
    But to everyone else, you're just Jason's new girl, whether you like it or not.'
    'I must leave,' she said.
    'Presently. We still have things to discuss.'
    'I have nothing to discuss with you, Mr Lord,' she said quietly.
    He threw down his cigarette, stubbing it out with his shoe.
    'All right,' he said. 'You're hurt and you're angry because I've brought you
    down from Cloud Seven with a jolt. But you'd have been forced down
    eventually, Catriona, don't you see that? You came to London of your own
    free will, and you saw Jeremy as you insisted on doing. Now it's time to pick
    up the pieces. You weren't just crying for Jeremy just now, you know. You
    were crying for first love and all it means. Well, first love isn't everything.'
    'Oh, I believe you,' she said with bitter sarcasm. 'I'm sure you're an expert. It
    must run in the family.'
    'You little bitch,' he said slowly. 'But even if you were right, at least I
    conduct my affairs with women who know what the score is. I don't take
    sweets from babies. Only a child could have been taken in by someone as
    callow as Jeremy.'
    'I suppose I deserved that,' she said wearily. She held out her hand.
    'Goodbye, Mr Lord. It's been salutory, if nothing else.'
    He ignored the gesture. 'How do you intend to leave here, and where do you
    propose to go?'
    Catriona was taken aback. 'There are taxis, I suppose. And hotels.'
    'There are,' he agreed. 'But only if you have money. And some of the more
    respectable hotels also like you to .have luggage.'

    Catriona was silent. It was like playing chess with an expert, she thought.
    Every move she tried to make was anticipated and blocked.
    'So let's look at the alternative,' he went on calmly. 'Go upstairs and repair
    your make-up and have the inevitable confrontation with Jeremy. Oh yes,'
    he took her chin in his hand as she flinched involuntarily, 'you