“I think I have every right. When one saves another person’s life, it is well known that one assumes responsibility for them. I am afraid that I have no choice but to make you my special responsibility.”

“I don’t want your help. I don’t want – anyone’s!” Alyna said passionately. “I just want – to be dead!”

Lord Dorrington did not answer and after a moment she went on defiantly,

“I know you think me a – coward, I know you think I am a foolish, inconsequential – schoolgirl, but I cannot – help being afraid.”

As her voice broke on the last words, Lord Dorrington covered her cold fingers with the warm strength of his own.

“Courage, Alyna,” he urged. “I have a feeling that things are not so black as you fear, somehow there will be a way of escape.”

Chapter Two

After he had dropped Alyna, Lord Dorrington proceeded to Carlton House.

As the horses drew up in Hertford Street outside number 36, Alyna had, as soon as the footman opened the carriage door, sped up the steps.

Then, before raising her hand to the brass knocker, she had waited for the carriage to drive away.

Alone Lord Dorrington sat back against the cushioned seat with a serious expression on his face.

He did not notice that lights in the Club windows were blazing brightly as they drove down St. James’s and that linkmen were calling carriages with lighted torches in their hands.

Nor did his Lordship see that bucks resplendent in their finery were moving from White’s to Brooks’s, from Brooks’s to Watier’s

It was indeed with quite a start that Lord Dorrington realised his horses had come to a standstill outside Carlton House.

There were still a number of coachmen outside the brilliantly lit porticoed entrance and he proceeded without hurrying through the hall with its Ionic columns of brown Sienna marble and up the graceful double staircase to the Chinese room.

He found the Prince of Wales with four other gentlemen, wine glasses in their hands and several footmen in attendance waiting to replenish them.

As Lord Dorrington was announced, the Prince of Wales looked up with an expression of pleasure on his handsome face.

”Dorrington! You are damned late!” he exclaimed. “I began to think that you intended to ignore my invitation.”

“I assure you I should do nothing so reprehensible, Sire,” Lord Dorrington replied. “My most humble apologies for not being here sooner. I was unavoidably detained.”

The Prince was about to ask a question when he suddenly rose to his feet.

“Curse it, Dorrington, where did you get that coat?” he exclaimed. “It’s new! It’s different from anything you have worn before! Have you discovered a new tailor you have kept secret from me?”

“No, indeed, Sire,” Lord Dorrington replied. “It was made by Weston – ”

“I don’t believe it! “the Prince of Wales interrupted.

“ – but more or less to my own design,” Lord Dorrington finished.