Daphné Du Maurier

She sat with the notes in her hands. The bluff was over. It wasn’t a
dream. She had merely joined the throng of his discarded mistresses,
women who’d served their time, and the time was done. He hadn’t the
courage to tell her so to her face. Therefore the lame excuse of enquiry into
her conduct, and the trumped-up charges of Adam, saved his conscience. A
woman who pleased no longer was an encumbrance. Out… and the faster
the better… make way for the next. If you want redress then send for a
lawyer, but bid the lawyer beware before he attacks. A prince of the blood
royal doesn’t submit to blackmail. The lawyer and the client can go to jail.
So… accept your congé with a smiling grace or find yourself in Newgate…
take your choice.