Lord Rowden had followed me.
“Are you running away from me, Samantha?” he asked, with an amused note in his voice.
“I would like to go upstairs and rest before dinner,” I said.
“Yes, of course,” he answered. “Let me show you your room. It’s one of the nicest in the house.”
I walked towards the hall and he followed me.
“There’s no need for you to come upstairs,” I said. “You should be with your guests.”
“Are you telling me how I should behave in my own house?” he asked.
“No, no, of course not,” I said quickly. “I-I just didn’t wish to be a – nuisance.”
“You could never be that,” he answered.
We went up the big broad staircase side by side and moved across the wide landing. He opened a door and I saw what I realised at once must be one of the best rooms in the house.
It was very la
