“One could not credit that you, my Lord, who are supposed to be a – Nobleman, would dare to behave in such a manner to anyone, least of all one who is loved by – His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales.”

“The whole thing is impossible! How could I imagine the sapskulls would so misunderstand my instructions?” Lord Wroxhall bellowed, striding about the room.

“Well, as they have done so – I suggest you stop this ship and let me return immediately – to Brighthelmstone,” Gretna proposed acidly.

Lord Wroxhall stopped still and looked at her.

“Return! There is no return for you.”

She felt herself blanch at his words, but her eyes did not flicker as she asked bravely,

“What does your Lordship – mean by that?”

“I mean,” he answered roughly, “that you have burned your boats, my girl. You have come here in Mistress Fitzherbert’s place. Well then, here you will have to stay. How can I take you back and allow you to chatter about what has happened? I have no desire to lose my standing in Society.”

“Whatever standing – you may have, my Lord,” Gretna retorted, “I can promise you it will be safe with me. I have no desire to talk of what has happened this evening – I am merely ashamed that anyone in your position should have sunk to such depths of iniquity merely because of some monstrous wager made in – a moment of inebriety.”

Lord Wroxhall’s eyebrows went up.

“So you know of that, do you?”

“I overheard you, my Lord, at – Carlton House!”

“You overheard! Did you speak of it to anyone?”

“No,” Gretna replied swiftly. “I would not have lowered myself to relate anything so – despicable.”

Even as she spoke and saw the relief on his face she realised that she had made a mistake.

She saw all too late that the one thing he was afraid of was that he might be connected in any way with the crime that he had been about to commit.

He would have covered his tracks and had an alibi that was unshakable in case anyone should in any way question him as to the disappearance of Maria Fitzherbert.

“So nobody knows, do they?” he said silkily and she saw that his assurance had returned and now he was looking at her in a very different manner from how he had done previously.

“Perhaps after all,” he said softly. “I am not so much the loser as I thought. Mistress Fitzherbert has not come aboard, but Gretna is here in her stead, little Gretna who has been very unkind to me up till now.”

Gretna rose to her feet

“My Lord, let’s cease this – exchange of words. Command the Captain of this yacht to put back to shore immediately. Take me back to Brighthelmstone and I promise you, I give you my word of honour – that I will never speak to anyone of what has – occurred this night.”