There was nothing now to keep Cassie from us, and she made haste to join us. She settled in with ease and both Grand'mere and I were happy to have her support as well as that of the Countess.

Within five years of our coming to London we were firmly established. Often I thought of Philip and those happy days we had had together. Katie was very like him-a constant reminder. But I was growing away from unhappiness. I had my daughter, Grand'mere and good friends; moreover I was discovering that I was quite a good business woman. I had a flair for design; I could choose material; I could see ahead and plan what should be done.

The Countess had shown us the way and Lenore's was becoming one of the leading court dressmakers.

As we became more and more successful Julia was a frequent visitor to our showrooms. She had changed a great deal. Her tendency to put on weight had stayed with her and she was what is called ' 'buxom.'' Her colour had heightened and Grand'mere thought she had fallen into her husband's habit of drinking heavily. She was very amused by our progress.

"I could not believe it," she said. "Everyone was talking about Lenore's . . . wonderful models . . . wonderful hats. ..." (We had started hats at the Countess's suggestion- not many, just a few to match the costumes.) "And all the time it was you!"

She spent a good deal of money with us, for her husband was wealthy. I often thought of the old days when she had been so dismayed at her inability to make a capture during her season.

The Countess thought she had done very well. As she said: "After all, John Grantley has the money and he does not stint her.''

I could believe that Julia was very pleased with life. . . .

Then her husband died and she became a wealthy widow. She evidently savoured her freedom with relish.

"Certainly she came very well out of the marriage market," commented the Countess.

She gave what she called "soirees" at her elegant house near Piccadilly. Her guests were mostly politicians with a sprinkling of what she called "the bohemians," artists, musicians, writers and such like. Occasionally I was invited. She would engage a violinist or a pianist-always a fashionable one-to perform for us; those were her musical evenings; then there were card evenings and some dinner parties. Julia was fast becoming a leading hostess and entertaining far more frequently than she had done during her husband's lifetime.

Cassie was enjoying being in London. She worked very hard and Grand'mere said she was a great asset. For a brief period Julia tried to find a husband for her-a project which horrified Cassie, and as Julia quickly tired of her projects when they did not find immediate success, she soon stopped trying very hard.

I did not play cards and I did not care for a great many of Julia's friends; many of them were gamblers and heavy drinkers; but I did enjoy the musical evenings. Julia realized this and those were the ones to which I was invited.

Katie was now seven years old. She was a beautiful child with a sunny nature-not exactly pretty but her charm was great. She loved the whole world and thought the whole world loved her. I was very proud of her. Every night I would read to her before she slept; and then I would sing a hymn to her, for she loved hymns; and I would lie beside her, her hand clasped in mine. And I think that then I was really happy again.

I thought: If we can go on like this I shall be content.

Julia had sent an invitation to one of her musical evenings. I was wondering whether to go or not but Grand'mere said: "You know you do enjoy them. I should go if I were you. Cassie would like to go with you."

So Cassie and I went.

I shall always remember it-that elegant room with the palms in the corner, and the grand piano on the dais and Julia, the gracious hostess in a violet coloured velvet gown trimmed with ecru lace which Grand'mere had made for her.

Julia had commanded a middle-aged gentleman to look after Cassie, who would have preferred to be without his care. The pianist played Chopin and this was followed by polite applause. I sat through the playing and thoroughly enjoyed it and as the applause died down, I saw a man coming towards me. He was tall, extremely good-looking and vaguely familiar. He was smiling at me quizzically.

"We have met before," he said.

Then I knew.

"Yes,'' he went on.' 'Drake Aldringham and you are Lenore. I would have known you anywhere. Mind you, you have changed. I'm delighted to meet you again.''

He took my hand and held it firmly.

"I left in rather a hurry. Do you remember?" he went on. "There was no time to say goodbye."

"I remember it well."

He laughed. "It's a long time ago." Then he was serious. "I know about you . . . and Philip. Julia told me. I'm sorry."

"And what of you?" I asked.

"I've been abroad. That is ... until just about a year ago. My father has interests on the Gold Coast. Well, now I'm back ... to settle. At a by-election I recently became Member of Parliament for Swaddingham."

"How interesting."

"I think so. I'm enjoying it. It is what I always wanted, but my people thought I ought to travel a bit first. . . see the world. Perhaps they were right. Well, here I am."

"Do you live in Swaddingham?''

"I have a house near . . . fortunately it is conveniently in reach of my constituency. I also have a place in Town ... not far from here. It behooves a member of Parliament to be stationed in two places-near those who have elected him and the House. I hear you have become a successful dress designer."

"With my grandmother and Cassie . . . you remember Cas-sie? . . . and the Countess of Ballader."

"So you are really an important business woman now."

"Well. . . a business woman."

"A rare species."

"Oh, it is always difficult for women. They have to work twice as hard as men to be equal with them."

"Very unfair, but I believe true. I have often thought of you."

"Have you?"

"Yes. You were at the source of the trouble really. I behaved abominably marching off like that. I ought to have been bold and stayed."

"How could you? You were Charles's guest."

''It was a foul thing he did. It makes my blood boil even now.''

"It was good of you to take up the cudgels on my behalf."

"Not much good . . . after the deed was done."

"Thank you, anyway."

"I should like to come along and see your place. Is that permissible?"

"Certainly. Gentlemen do call-though usually in the company of ladies."

"Perhaps I should get Julia to bring me along.''

"That would be an excellent idea."

"Julia says you have a little girl."

"She is seven years old now. She is enchanting.'' I felt myself glowing as I always did when I talked of Katie.

"I should expect that of her," he said, smiling at me.

Julia had come up.

"Oh Drake ... so you found Lenore."

"Yes, we have been reminiscing."

''That's ancient history.''

"Not all that ancient.''

"Why, Drake, we were all children then. Do come and talk to Roskoff. He plays divinely but he is hard going conversationally. I'll see you later, Lenore."

He smiled at me and went off with Julia.

I felt rather excited.

I did not have a chance to talk to him again. Cassie wanted to leave and as we never stayed long after the music was over, I went with her.

I said: "Did you see Drake Aldringham?"

"Drake Aldringham?" she repeated. "Wasn't he . . . ?"

"Yes, the one who came home with Charles that time. There was trouble and he threw him in the lake."

"I remember. It was because Charles shut you in the mausoleum. So he was here tonight?"

"Yes. He's apparently a friend of Julia's."

"How strange! But I suppose it is not really. Julia knows so many people. She's bound to meet everyone sooner or later."

When we reached home I told Grand'mere of the encounter. She always liked to hear how the evening had gone.

"I was so surprised to see him," I said.

"You recognized him then?"

"Oh yes. He is the sort of person one would. There was something about him. Do you remember how proud Charles was because he had deigned to spend the holiday at The Silk House? That was what made what happened so awful."

"I wonder if you will see him again,'' said Grand'mere, looking at me intently.

"He said he would call," I told her. "With Julia."

He did call-and with Julia. Grand'mere and Cassie came out to meet him and I introduced him to the Countess.

"Isn't it odd to see Lenore here like this?" said Julia. "Who would have believed it all those years ago?"

"We have all changed since those days," I reminded her. ''Would you like some coffee? We very often have it at this time of the morning."

"Yes please-and I should like to see everything."

''Oh Drake,'' cried Julia. "You're not interested in fashion.''

"I'm interested in Lenore," he said.

"It is rather marvellous," commented Julia, "to think they have done all this."

"Very clever," said Drake, smiling at me.

Grand'mere was welcoming.

"The Countess of Ballader brought me out," said Julia.

"I've given up those activities now," the Countess told him. "This is more to my taste."

Cassie said she would go and make the coffee.

We sat in the reception room with the red carpets and white furniture-chosen by the Countess who said we must have an aura of luxury about the place.

I found Drake's eyes on me. I guessed he was comparing me with the frightened little girl who had been locked in the mausoleum.

"And how is business?" asked Julia.

"Flourishing," said the Countess.

"Well, your gowns are absolutely the latest thing," replied Julia. "I was talking to Lady Bronson only yesterday and she said she had misguidedly bought a new dress . . . not a Lenore . . . and, my goodness, she realized her mistake."

"Let us hope," put in the Countess, "that she has the good sense not to repeat her folly."

"I want a new morning gown," said Julia. "I'll look round while I'm here."

We talked lightly. Drake told us about his place in the country. "It's quite a small manor house. It's been in the family for years. My aunt lived in it, but she died a little while back and it seems ideal for me because of its geographical situation.''

"Very fortunate that it should be so near your constituency," I said.

"Couldn't be better. My place in Town is very small. I get down to the country when I can."

"It must be fascinating to be at the heart of affairs," I said. "We just read about them in the papers whereas you are on the spot."

"It is what has always fascinated me. I was amazed when I got in first time. That was a bit of luck. I happened to be in the right place at the right time."

''That's the secret of success in life,'' added Grand'mere, ''to be in the right place at the right time."

"It happens so rarely," I added.

"And when it does we should be grateful. I seized the opportunity with both hands."