“I have been wondering what I must – do,” she said in a low voice. “I cannot stay here! You must realise that Mama will arrive and take me – back to London.”

Lord Dorrington glanced at his sister, who discreetly withdrew from the salon closing the door behind her.

“Come and sit down, Alyna,” he said, “I want to talk to you.”

She looked at him for a moment and realised that he appeared a little strange because he was wearing a coat that did not fit him.

“You must have got very wet,” she said. “Is your coat completely spoilt?”

“Ruined!” he said with a smile, “Which is, of course, an earth-shaking tragedy.”

She made a brave effort to smile.

Then she said miserably,

“I am nothing but a – worry and a trouble to – you.”

“I know,” he answered. “That is why we have to do something about it.”

“You will not send me back to Mama?” she asked quickly.

“I will not send you back,” Lord Dorrington replied, “but you must realise, Alyna, that your mother can force you by law to return to her.”

Alyna put her hands up to her face.

“I cannot go! I – will not!” she cried. “She will make me – marry the Prince – I know she will. Help me find a – place to – hide!”

There was a frantic note in her voice that Lord Dorrington had heard before. He took her hands from her face and, holding them tightly in his own, drew her down on the sofa beside him.

“Now try to listen to me, Alyna,” he said. “You are intelligent and we have to think this out together. Are you listening to me?”

“Yes, I am – listening.”

“Then let’s discuss it quite calmly,” he said. “You know I will prevent you marrying the Prince if I have to kill him first. Apart from that, there are only two courses of action that we can take.”

”What are they?” Alyna asked.

‘The first would be to try to hide you once again from your mother,” Lord Dorrington said, “but that is impossible now that she knows that I am involved. She is your natural Guardian and she can at any moment obtain an order from the Court, which will force me to return you to her.”

He paused and with a little smile on his lips added,

“I could also be prosecuted for the abduction of a minor. I think the penalty is transportation for life! ”

Alyna gave a little cry.

“No! No! I cannot – involve you any more in my – affairs.”

“But I am involved!” Lord Dorrington answered. “However, Alyna, frankly I have no desire to be transported. I am convinced that it is a very uncomfortable existence.”

“Then what can we do?” Alyna asked.

“There is a very simple solution, if you will consider it,” Lord Dorrington said.

“And what is that?” Alyna asked.

He paused for a moment before he went on,