It would be terrifying to encounter him and yet she would do anything, she thought, anything rather than allow the man she loved to be brutally murdered because he had so chivalrously come to her defence.

Without appearing to do so, out of the corners of her eyes Alyna watched Lord Dorrington tooling the four horses that had been attached to his phaeton for their journey to London.

She had never imagined a man could drive so expertly and with such precision that, however fast they travelled, she never for a moment felt there was any chance of an accident.

When they reached the outskirts of London and encountered some heavy traffic on the road, Lord Dorrington seemed hardly to slacken speed.

He looked happy, she thought, and wondered how he could do so when he walked on the knife edge of danger and must be intelligent enough to be aware of it.

Lord Dorrington drew up his team with a flourish outside Dorrington House.

The butler and footmen were waiting and immediately on their arrival the red carpet was rolled across the pavement.

Alyna was assisted down from the box.

“Welcome, my Lady,” the butler said, “and all the household wish to offer you and his Lordship our warmest congratulations.”

So much seemed to have happened since her Wedding that Alyna had almost forgotten that to the servants in London it would be a surprise.

She thanked the butler and was led by Lord Dorrington into the salon at the back of the house, which overlooked a small garden.

They had been there only a few seconds when a middle-aged man with grey hair came into the room almost apologetically with a number of letters in his hand.

“Forgive my intrusion, your Lordship.”

“Oh, it’s you, Greyshott!” Lord Dorrington exclaimed and turning to Alyna said, “I want you to meet Mr. Greyshott, my most valuable confidential secretary. The whole smooth running of Dorrington Park and this house rests on his very efficient shoulders.”

Mr. Greyshott bowed and then he said to Lord Dorrington,

“A message has come from Carlton House, my Lord. His Royal Highness would be delighted to entertain you and her Ladyship at dinner this evening and is also agreeable to receive your Lordship as soon as you arrive in London.”

“Then I will go to His Royal Highness immediately,” Lord Dorrington said.

“And we are dining there tonight?” Alyna asked in dismay.

“It’s a Royal command, which we cannot refuse,” Lord Dorrington said with a smile. “Put on your prettiest gown, Alyna, and, when you have decided which it is to be, Mr. Greyshott will produce the family jewels for your inspection. You will find that they can enhance the effectiveness of any gown.”

“They can indeed, my Lord,” Mr. Greyshott agreed.

Lord Dorrington raised Alyna’s hand to his lips.

“There is even time for a rest before dinner,” he said. “I would want you to look your very best tonight.”