“And does the Prince’s lack of Royal blood perturb you?” Lord Dorrington asked.

“I don’t care who he is,” Alyna declared. “But, according to the religion of Kahriz, a man can have four wives. He can also divorce them under Muslim law. That means he only has to say three times that they are divorced and they no longer have any claim on him.”

“But surely – ” Lord Dorrington began.

“Mama says all this is nonsense,” Alyna interrupted. “She says that the Prince will marry me according to our laws and he has told her that we will spend at least three quarters of the year in Europe. But I don’t believe him.”

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

“They have – many horrible customs in Kahriz. I thought I remembered some of the things Papa and I had read together, so I went to the British Museum. They did not have many books on the country, as it is so small, but there were enough to tell me that what I had remembered was accurate. They are a savage – uncivilised race.”

“Feeling as you do and knowing what you know,” Lord Dorrington said, “you must refuse to marry the Prince. No one can force you to the altar.”

“Mama is determined I shall marry him!” Alyna answered. “I think that he must have promised that he will help her in some way.”

Lord Dorrington thought this more than likely, but he merely said,

“It is you who will have to say the words ‘I will’ in front of a Clergyman.”

“I tried to talk to Mama this afternoon,” Alyna said, “when she told me the Prince wanted our engagement to be announced tonight. Lady Glossop, who is giving this party, is my Godmother and Mama felt she would be pleased – that the announcement should be made in her house.”

“And you told your mother quite firmly that you would not marry the Prince?”

“I told her that I would rather die than do so,” Alyna said. “But she merely replied that, now Papa is dead – she has the power and authority to arrange my marriage. I have no say – in the matter.”

Lord Dorrington knew this to be true. By law a parent or Guardian could arrange a marriage without the consent of the parties concerned if they were under age.

Alyna gave a little shiver.

“What is the time?” she asked.

Lord Dorrington drew his watch attached to a gold fob from his waistcoat pocket.

“It’s a quarter to midnight.”

“And the announcement is to be made – at midnight!” Alyna cried with a note of panic in her voice. “Do you understand that, if I am not back in the ballroom in a few minutes – they will come looking for me? That is why your Lordship must go away and forget – that you have ever seen me.”