“Whatever happens and whatever the future holds, it will have been worth it, worth it because love matters more than anything people can do or say to destroy it.”

Her words caused Gretna to feel an almost stabbing ache in her own heart.

She loved the Marquis, loved him despite his scorn of her and despite his disdain and what seemed to her in retrospect the disgust that she had seen in his eyes when they had last parted.

In that moment she envied her friend as she had never envied her before. She had known the fulfilment of ecstasy and happiness when she and the Prince were alone together and the tempestuous world outside was shut away from them.

She thought again of that moment on the balcony when the Marquis had looked deep into her eyes and she had felt as if she was caught up into some strange Heaven when nothing mattered except that they were joined together by indivisible bonds that were stronger than steel.

And now he hated her!

She heard her own voice crying out at it, saw again the ice in his eyes and heard his voice almost like a whiplash declaim her for what he believed her to be. She could have cried bitterly at the thought of it.

She felt as if her whole body was bruised and aching because of what he had done to her, but she knew that even if she had to make the choice again she would still be loyal to Maria and still stay where she was rather than betray her friend.

And then the pain of what she had to bear seemed almost too much for her.

She felt that she must tell Maria a little of what she was feeling. She must at least speak to her of the Marquis, even to talk of him might be some relief to the agony of her need of him.

“Maria – ” she began and then at that moment the door was burst open and the Prince stood there.

His sudden entrance, the wild expression on his face and the way he had arrived unannounced and unexpected, made both women turn towards him with an exclamation of surprise on their lips.

He slammed the door behind him and then rushed across the room to Maria, kissing both her hands wildly and then half-falling on his knees beside her.

“Maria! Maria! What am I to do?” he cried wildly.

“What has happened? Oh, Sire, what has happened?” Maria asked in dismay. “Come and sit down. Tell me quietly for I can see you are distraught”

In answer the Prince left Maria’s side and walked swiftly up and down the room.

“Quietly! How can I say anything quietly?” he asked. “When I tell you what has happened, the insult and the humiliation of it and then you will understand.”