Maria seemed to understand the urgency in her tone. She took leave of the Prince curtseying to him with the utmost formality, but those standing immediately beside them could see how tightly he held her hand and realised that he whispered something in her ear.

Then she and Gretna were being escorted downstairs by one of the aides-de-camp who commanded a footman to find their carriage and handed them into it with a great show of politeness.

“What happened to you, my love?” Maria asked when at last they were alone and the coach was rumbling off towards St. James’s Square. “When you came back to us, I would have vowed that you had seen a ghost.”

Gretna was silent and after a moment she went on,

“I would not press your confidence, you know that. But it is obvious that you are troubled and I would wish to help you. I love you, Gretna. You really seem like a sister to me and sisters should share everything even unhappiness.”

“You are so kind, so good to me,” Gretna answered, feeling the tears come into her eyes again. “I would not wish to burden you with – my troubles.”

“It’s no burden, dearest. But, if anyone has made you unhappy, then I am ready to challenge them and indeed to fight them on your behalf.”

“Oh, no,” Gretna protested. “I would not have you fight anyone – for me. You have so much to contend with, so many people against you – and you are so brave and so courageous. I admire you more than I can say – and I love you too.”

“And I do love you,” Maria sighed. “And therefore let there be no secrets between us.”

Gretna had a great desire to throw herself into Maria’s arms, to sob out everything that had happened since she had left home. And yet she knew that it would be too unkind to repeat the cruel things that the Marquis had said and to reveal Lord Wroxhall’s perfidy and the wager he had taken.

Such revelation would only hurt Maria and do no one any good. She thought wildly for a moment what she could say, realising that to say nothing would also seem unkind and needlessly hurtful.

At length the words came.

“I met a Kinsman of mine – tonight,” she said. “He says that his grandmother and mine were – first cousins. He claimed relationship and I think – I think he frightened me.”

“It was quite unnecessary for him to do so,” Maria remarked. “I know that your grandfather, the Earl of Ledbury, treated your mother disgracefully. I have never met the gentleman, but if I did I should feel like giving him a piece of my mind. But what business is it of this Kinsman, whoever he may be, to take you to task? If indeed he has done so.”