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Rafe insisted upon her taking something to help her sleep, and Amelia did not protest, suddenly bone-weary.

She woke late the next morning, aching all over but very aware that she was whole and essentially undamaged, when someone who probably did not even know her to speak to had not intended that it should be so.

She had a great appetite for breakfast, which Sophie fetched for her on a tray, and stayed to watch her eat.

She brought Louis in for a while too, though he was sleeping, and Amelia held him, looking down at his perfect, serene little face and blinking away unexpected tears.

Thinking that she ought to get up, she found this wish firmly vetoed, and compromised upon the sofa in her chamber, and a dressing gown.

She was drowsing there over a book a short while later when Sophie came back into the room rather abruptly and said, a crease between her brows, ‘You have a visitor. Not him…’ Amelia was apparently excessively easy to read.

‘I would have brought him straight up, and damn the proprieties. We have of course said that you are not at home to visitors – and at this hour of the morning, who but he would expect you to receive them? A great many bouquets have come… But Amelia, it is Lady Thornfalcon. Not his mother. The younger Lady Thornfalcon – Lavinia.’

‘She is here?’ She had heard the words, but to believe them was another matter.

‘Yes. She offers no explanation, as if it is perfectly normal to call upon a stranger – an unwell stranger – at eleven in the morning, but she is here.’

‘Please tell me she hasn’t brought her daughter with her,’ Amelia said with a feeble attempt at humour.

Sophie snorted. ‘She has not, but there is no reason in the world why you should see her. I can easily send her about her business. Or if you desire to know what she wants, I can stay with you.’

‘No. No, I should speak to her. And alone, so that she will feel able to be completely frank. I’ve had enough of whispers. Have her sent up, Sophie.’

‘Are you quite sure? She may be coming to take advantage of your weakened state – to abuse you.’

‘As long as you don’t let her push me down the stairs… though she’d have to drag me there first.’

‘I will happily push her down myself,’ was the fierce response. ‘Shout and I will come, and send her tumbling as she deserves.’

A few moments later, Lady Thornfalcon was shown into the chamber.

Lovely as ever in her blue and silver – and Amelia did not feel so very lovely herself this morning – she entered with an air of great composure, and seated herself without being asked in a chair beside the sofa.

Amelia said nothing, but looked at her with naked curiosity.

Let her speak first , she thought. She doesn’t deserve that I should make it easy for her. Or even show her any ordinary courtesy.

‘I was sorry to hear that you are ill, Lady Amelia,’ the woman said after a moment. She didn’t trouble to sound as though she meant it.

‘I’m not ill. Just bruised and shaken. One of your Friends – I hope you can hear the capital letter – pushed me down the stairs.’

‘That cannot be proved. I’m sure you imagined it.’

‘I didn’t. I felt it. And my sister-in-law saw it.’

Her unwanted guest waved her hand airily. ‘A Frenchwoman. They are known to be excitable.’

‘Would you care to say that to her face, and test the truth of it? She’s in the next room, and will come if I call.

Oh, and others saw it too – other guests at the ball.

They were speaking of it last night, my brother told me.

You can be very sure they will be speaking of it this morning. As will many others.’

‘I am confident you will not encourage such preposterous and irresponsible gossip.’ The widow was a little pale, perhaps, but still calm.

‘You of all people dare say that to me, madam? I thought you might be coming to apologise, but that’s not why you are here, is it?’

Something ugly flashed in those lovely, limpid eyes. ‘I have nothing for which to apologise. I have done nothing.’

‘Just set all these rumours about Lord Thornfalcon’s supposed devotion to you and desire to marry you in motion, encouraged and fed them, so that foolish people believe them, and now have acted on their belief.

If the culprit could be identified – and I agree, it is unlikely that she will be, if she keeps her nerve and stays silent – she might be charged with attempted murder.

Certainly with assault. I expect she is a very young and silly person.

You feel no responsibility at all, truly? ’

‘People have been greatly affected by my sad story. I cannot be blamed for that.’ She shrugged her elegant shoulders, a complacent little smile curling her perfectly sculpted lips, and Amelia felt a wave of almost visceral dislike pass through her.

‘I’m still not quite sure why you came, but I think you should go now,’ she said wearily.

‘I won’t. I came to tell you the truth, so that you know the man who you have so recklessly decided to marry. He is not free to take you. He is mine. He has always been mine and always will be. And my child is his.’

Amelia absorbed this revelation in silence; if it shook her, she would die before she showed it.

‘Then I am sorry for you,’ she said levelly after a moment.

‘To keep such a dangerous secret must be a constant burden. I wonder that you should have thought to tell me when I have no reason at all to like you. How do you know I won’t shout it from the rooftops?

And I don’t think you can be right in the other things you say, because he has asked me to marry him, you know. ’

‘I should have known no Wyverne would be shocked by what I have just revealed,’ the woman shot back viciously. She was a little disconcerted, Amelia thought, that she had not been shown a stronger reaction, or any reaction at all.

‘What do you want me to say? I’m not the one with the illegitimate child. If I were, I expect I’d keep very quiet about it. For her sake, if nothing else.’

‘There is more.’

‘I thought there might be.’

‘I go to his chamber. Even now. A few nights ago, the latest time. Just before your sham of an engagement was announced. He knows I will come; he waits for me. I was naked in his chamber, as so often before, and he looked at me and desired me. We lay down together and did things you can’t even imagine, you foolish little girl.

I have known how to give him pleasure any time these ten years. Because he is mine and I am his.’

‘Why do you think he asked me to marry him, then?’ Amelia asked, preserving her calm though her heart was pounding.

She had pride; she would not show any sign of agitation.

Could any of what the woman said be true?

And why should she care if it was? It would be different if her engagement were real, or the bond between them genuine.

All they’d done was kiss, even if she’d wanted so much more.

‘Because he is afraid.’ Lavinia was contemptuous. She had risen, and stood looking down at Amelia.

‘Afraid of you? Because you’re mad as a hatter?

’ Amelia jumped to her feet, suddenly feeling that she didn’t want to be alone with this person a moment longer, nor sitting while she was standing, and tugged sharply at the bell-rope beside the fireplace.

But it would take a while for her maid to answer it…

She opened her chamber door and called out, glad to hear that her voice did not waver, ‘Sophie! Lady Thornfalcon is leaving.’

‘I will show her out myself,’ said the Marchioness, appearing instantly from wherever she had been lurking like a jack in the box, with a light in her eyes that suggested that Lavinia would do well to watch her footing on the stairs.

The widow looked at her contemptuously, then returned her disturbingly intense violet-blue gaze to Amelia.

‘Oh, my poor child,’ she said unexpectedly, though there was no hint of softness in her tone.

‘I should have realised it before. No wonder you accepted his offer – you’re in love with him.

Of course you are. But believe me, you’re wasting your time.

He can never be yours, because he’s mine, body and soul, and always will be.

’ And she swept off down the broad staircase with magnificent unconcern, disdaining even to hold the gilded metal banister, careless whether Sophie followed her or not.

‘I will see her out,’ the Marchioness said quietly. ‘I will not push her, much as I am tempted. And then I will come back to you, ma petite soeur .’