The butler came into the room with the brandy.

Lord Dorrington poured out a glass and held it out to Alyna.

“Drink it up,” he commanded. “You don’t wish to have a cold. There is nothing more unbecoming!”

She took a sip and made a face as the fiery spirit seemed to burn her throat.

“All of it,” Lord Dorrington said firmly.

Obediently she drank the brandy and felt it burn through her body.

Lord Dorrington poured himself a glass and drank it quickly. As he did so, Elizabeth came hurrying into the room followed by two housemaids.

They had big bath towels in their hands, which they put round Alyna’s shoulders. One of them began to arrange a round tin bath on the hearthrug, while another maid lit the fire.

“There will be a bath for you in your usual bedroom,” Elizabeth said to her brother.

‘Thank you,” he answered.

With a glance at Alyna, he left her to the ministrations of the women.

It was an hour later before Lord Dorrington, wearing his brother-in-law’s coat, which was too large for him, but with a meticulously tied cravat, was joined in the salon by his sister.

“How is Alyna?” he asked as Elizabeth came towards him.

“She is all right,” she replied, “but something must have disturbed her greatly. Who is this man that Rupert was talking about?”

“Prince Ahmadi of Kahriz,” Lord Dorrington answered.

“What has he done to Alyna?”

“Fortunately he had done nothing but terrify her,” Lord Dorrington said grimly. “I arrived just in time!”

“You cannot mean – ” Elizabeth exclaimed.

“The Prince wants to marry Alyna and her mother wishes her to do so,” Lord Dorrington explained. “That is why she ran away.”

“But, of course, she cannot marry a man like that!” Elizabeth declared. “No wonder she hates the thought of marriage and is afraid of men!”

“I want to talk to her,” Lord Dorrington said. “Have you put her to bed?”

“No,” Elizabeth answered, “she insisted on dressing and coming downstairs. I think she is afraid of being alone.”

Lord Dorrington nodded as if he understood.

“When she appears, please leave us together.”

“Of course,” his sister agreed. “But don’t frighten her more than she is already. I think she is desperately afraid that she might have to go back to London now that the Prince has discovered her hiding place.”

“I guessed that was what she would be thinking,” Lord Dorrington said.

A few minutes later Alyna came into the room. She was very pale, but much of the horror that had been in her eyes had gone and now she merely looked apprehensive.

She was wearing another of her new gowns and had no idea how lovely, if tragic, she looked, as she hesitated a moment in the doorway before running across the room to Lord Dorrington’s side.