Chapter TwoTHE door opened and Bates came in with the champagne on a silver tray and he put it down on a table in the corner of the room.
He poured a glass of the sparkling wine from the bottle.
As she watched, Belinda realised that the ice bucket was missing and she had the idea that her stepfather had taken it back to London with him.
Bates offered the glass of champagne to D’Arcy Rowland and he drank it down as if he were very thirsty.
When the Butler had withdrawn, Belinda asked,
“Tell me what is wrong, Step-Papa. I know there is something you have to tell me.”
D’Arcy Rowland turned from the window when he had finished the champagne and without speaking, he walked across the room to fill his glass again.
Then, as if he had to answer Belinda’s question, he cried out,
“I am finis
