‘My mistake was perhaps understandable,’ he said. ‘I was leaving the Restaurant with Lady Violet just after I had noticed you depart. I came out on to the doorstep. I saw your aunt swooning and one of the Rajah’s aides trying to revive her. He was supporting her with one arm and shouting to a waiter to bring a glass of wine. There was another woman standing on the steps. I have an idea that I had seen her in the Prince’s party. I turned to her and said, “Is anything the matter?”

‘“An elderly lady over there seems to think that her niece has been abducted,” she said, “and my escort has also rushed off in a great hurry. It all seems to me very peculiar.”

‘She spoke disdainfully, but looking up the road I saw the Prince’s carriage vanishing into the distance. I recognised the brilliant uniform of his servants and I sprang to the conclusion, and not an unnatural one, that he had carried you off. I had seen you dancing together and the way he looked at you and the possessive attitude he adopted had annoyed me considerably. Without stopping to make enquiries or to question my own impulse I got into the nearest carriage and told them to follow the Prince. I was too late, of course, for the Prince’s horses, which must have been his own, were much faster than the hired beasts which seemed to take a lifetime to climb the hill.’

‘And – and Lady Violet?’ Mistral asked.

Sir Robert gave an exclamation.

‘It is a terrible thing to confess,’ he said after a moment’s pause, but I had forgotten all about her until this minute. I must have left her standing on the steps.’

‘She will think you very rude,’ Mistral said.

‘Does it matter?’ Sir Robert asked. ‘Does anything matter except that you are safe?’

His voice was very low and deep. His eyes looked down into hers and suddenly Mistral felt herself begin to tremble. She did not know why, for she was not afraid. Indeed the most wonderful feeling she had ever known was creeping over her, burning through her like a flame, making her breath come quickly from between her lips. She could no longer meet Sir Robert’s eyes and her lashes were dark against her cheeks as she heard him say,

‘You are so lovely, so perfect!’

She felt as if she could no longer bear the intensity of her own feelings. With a little inarticulate murmur she turned her face and hid it against his shoulder. He drew her closer and she could feel his heart beating quickly and strongly beneath her cheek. She knew then with a happiness she had not believed possible that he loved her even as she loved him.

They were both silent for there was no need for words. They were close, joined by a glory which seemed to vibrate in their veins like music.