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Her eyes were alight with glinting desire Hunger for him was unleashed within her And all the memories that she had barred were freshly vivid in herit had been since she had held him in her arms!

‘Then we shall have an afternoon of love,’ he proclai her

There was a cough, discreet, but audible, and a voice spoke from across the room

‘Indeed you shall’ The voice was cool and accented, and very obviously amused

They turned instantly Antoine, Co in the open double doorway, his light gaze resting on thehtest smile on his mouth

‘But not, I implore you, until after lunch!’

His saze Diana could see fond affection as well as humour

‘I as,’ the Comte continued, his voice more serious now, ‘that the reconciliation which I know ed for has successfully been accoht nod upon Nikos, and then Diana, and again that a at his hted that I may now properly welcome you, ma chère Madame Tramontes’

And noalking towards theed his stance so that Diana was at his side, his arainst each other With Gallic elegance he possessed hi it to his lips

‘Enchanté, ain, released it ‘I can see,’ he said, and now his smile arm, ‘that it is quite unnecessary for me to say that you have made my brother the happiest of men I profoundly hope that it is within his capabilities to make you the happiest of wives’

His smile deepened

‘And with that concluded’ he raised his hands in another very Gallic gesture and turned to walk back to the doors ‘Irooenius of my chef—upon which he has called in measures previously unsurpassed to present us with a celebratory dejeuner du midi—is exceeded, hélas, only by the volatility of his te you not to arouse his wrath by a tardy appearance’

He flung open the doors in a draesture, infused still with humour

‘Venez,’ he invited ‘Love can wait—luncheon cannot!’

Laughingly, their arms still entwined around each other, as their hearts would be entwined all their lives, Nikos and Diana followed him from the room