"Of course, I don’t mean to suggest that you’ve been seducing her." Claire said, recognising the error in her assumption. She struggled to inject a sense of calm into her voice as she chose her next words carefully, "What I meant was that ... that I realise that you married me for your own reasons—and those reasons are your own business... and that I have no claim at all on you. You’re at perfect liberty to behave as you wish. If you... if there’s an attraction elsewhere... I mean... I won’t stand in your way."