He knew perfectly well that leading Clarissa into this particular chamber was highly improper, and wasn’t sure how far her natural curiosity would bring her. She did step rather nervously over the threshold, but then halted immediately, as if fearing the room held some contagion she might catch if she strayed too far inside. The last thing he wanted was for Clarissa to bolt like a frightened filly. He strolled casually away from her as if her presence was a matter of complete indifference to him. It was rather like taming a fawn, he thought. His footsteps noiseless on the lush carpeting, he crossed the floor and flung wide the gilded doors of the enormous wardrobe. His mouth twisted wryly at the sight of the empty shelves and pegs. The last time he had seen the inside of this wardrobe, it had been crammed with expensive garments. Expensive pink garments, he recalled with an inward shudder. Now there were exactly two frocks, lonely and discarded, hung on pegs at the back of the wardrobe.
