“Yes, I planned it,” Lord Dorrington answered, “with the help of the Prince of Wales, and, of course, my friends.”

He smiled.

“You must have realised that only my closest friends were invited and ladies are never present at duels. This was the exception, but I wanted you to be sure that you were no longer menaced.”

“You meant to – kill him?” Alyna asked.

“I was quite sure he intended to kill me,” Lord Dorrington replied. “But, as his first attempt had been somewhat clumsy, I thought it wise to accelerate matters.”

“Is he – dead?”

“If he is not dead already, he will be before morning,” Lord Dorrington answered in a tone of utter indifference.

Then gently he added,

“You are free, Alyna, you never need to be afraid again. It was a horrible terrifying episode in your life, but now it’s all over. Forget it!”

“I will – try,” she murmured.

“But there is one question I want to ask you,” he said.

“What is that?” she enquired.

He paused as if he was choosing his words carefully before he said,

“I would like an explanation, Alyna, of the term of endearment you used to me just before the fight started.”

She had almost forgotten the words she had used in the extremity of her fear.

Now she recalled what she had said involuntarily and the blood rose in her pale cheeks.

Her eyes dropped before his.

“They were two words,” Lord Dorrington said in his deep voice, “that I have never heard you use before. Will you explain them to me?”

“I – was so – frightened for – y-you.”

“I know that,” Lord Dorrington answered, “but that still does not tell me why you used that particular expression.”

Again there was silence. Alyna wanted to turn away but somehow she was rooted to the ground, unable to move.

“Can you not tell me why you used those two words,” Lord Dorrington said softly.

She shook her head.

“It is important for me to know, Alyna. I must know the reason why you said them.”

She did not answer.

“Tell me!” he urged.

There was a note of command in his voice, and now as if she must obey him, Alyna’s lips moved.

“I – said them,” she faltered. “B-because – I – l-love – y-you.”

Then in the frantic, frightened voice that he knew so well, looking up at him, her eyes beseeching him, she cried,

“I cannot – help it – please don’t let it make any – difference. I will be no – further – trouble to you! But don’t – send me – away.”

“Send you away?”

Lord Dorrington’s voice was deep and moved.

Then his arms were round her and he was holding her so close against him that she could hardly breathe.

“Send you away?” he repeated. “Do you still not understand, my precious, my foolish most adorable wife, that it is for this moment I have been waiting ever since we first met?”