As their eyes met she felt herself quiver with a feeling Arina Beverley had never known before that seemed to be rising within her, which made her feel it was impossible to breathe.

" I may be quite wrong," the Marquess Alistair McDonon said after moment, "but I have the feeling, Arina, that you love me."

"Yes... I... love youl" Arina whispered. " I love you... and I want to... help you... but I will not be ... nuisance and as... soon as you... want me to leave, I will do so."

"That will not be for at least a million years." As he spoke he bent forward and his lips were on hers.

She felt as if the Marquess gave her the sunshine that was outside and carried her high over the moors behind them into the sky.

The Marquess raised his head and said: " I love you..."