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‘What happened to it?’

‘The nuns took it when I went to the convent’

‘But you were, what, twelve by then?’

‘Thirteen, and far too old to play with dolls, of course I didn’t play with her, though, I talked to her She was my friend,’ Tess said simply

When they were outside on the pavement she blinked as if she had been ht ‘Did you not have friends?’

‘Not really’ Her expression went blank ‘We , of course I was perfectly happy,’ she said hastily when he opened his mouth ‘I had Mama and Papa But you knohat it is like when you are a child, you need an ear to whisper your secrets into, soinary friends, Patty was my confidant, that is all’

Yes, I know Peter was all of that to me, but he was real Friend, confidant, someone to tell my troubles and est secret and because of that, he’s been cold in the ground these ten years

‘Where do you want to go next?’ Alex asked and fished out his clean handkerchief for Tess

She blew her nose briskly, stuffed the linen square into her reticule and said, ‘A bookshop Dorcas enjoys novels’

Alex left Tess browsing amidst the stacked tables in Hatchard’s in Piccadilly ‘Will you be all right here for half an hour? I’ve just re I need to do’

By the time he came back she had accumulated a pile of six books, t notebooks and soold stars stamped on it ‘The notebooks and two of the books are for me,’ she explained as he carried thees’

‘Don’t be foolish’ Alex looked at the spines ‘Cookery books and notebooks are essential housekeeping equip to carry the parcel out to the carriage ‘Noe are going to Bond Street and Madame Francine’s’

‘Madaoing to help you choose garht of love, my lord!’

‘Foolish,’ he repeated, e ‘Garaveyou’

‘She had I have everything I need’ She was beholden to hih