He opened it and Alyna saw an enormous ruby ring set with diamonds.

“It’s fantastic! The most beautiful stone I have ever seen!” Lady Maude gasped.

“And you, Alyna,” the Prince enquired. “What do you think?”

“It is very – magnificent,” Alyna faltered.

He reached out and took her hand in his.

At his touch she felt herself tremble. It felt, as she had said before, as if she was being touched by a reptile.

She felt a cold shiver go down her spine and she was sure the very hairs were rising on her head.

“For my bride to be,” the Prince said and slipped the ring onto her third finger.

It was cold and heavy and Alyna thought that the ruby was like an evil eye staring at her balefully.

She did not know why, but she felt that the stone exuded cruelty, that it had been worn by other women and something bestial or brutal had happened to them, so it had now come into her possession.

But she knew that the Prince was waiting for her to thank him and with an effort she forced the words to her lips.

“Thank you – thank you very – much.”

“It becomes you.”

He raised her hand and she felt his lips against her skin.

It was with a superhuman effort that she forced herself not to scream and snatch her hand away from him.

Only by thinking of Lord Dorrington and remembering his orders by reiterating in her mind that she had to act a part, did she force herself to stand still.

“Now we must have a drink to celebrate this exciting moment,” Lady Maude exclaimed.

Before Alyna could prevent her, she moved away to the far end of the salon where the drinks stood on a grog tray.

For a moment Alyna was to all intents and purposes alone with the Prince.

“You are very sweet.”

His voice was low and now his lips were once again against the softness of her skin.

She could feel them hard yet warm and she knew that they were also greedy, possessive and ready to devour her.

“Soon we shall be alone,” the Prince said, “and then I will make you love me as I love you.”

Without meaning to do so, Alyna looked up into his eyes.

There was a fire blazing down at her that made her catch her breath in her throat.

It was not love that she saw, but a lust so violent, so overpowering that she shrank away as if she had opened the door on a furnace. She could feel the heat blazing forth onto her.

For a moment she was unable to move.

She could only stare at the Prince transfixed, seeing not only the fire in his eyes, but the sensuous cruelty of his lips.