But Lord Dorrington was different. It seemed as if they thought along the same lines and at the same time stimulated each other’s brain.

‘I am happy! Very happy!’ Alyna told herself as she climbed into bed.

Her maids blew out the candles and, wishing her a respectful goodnight, they curtseyed before they left the room.

Downstairs Lord Dorrington sat for some time after Alyna had left him staring at the fire. The flames flickering over an oak log reminded him of her hair.

Then finally he rose and went upstairs to his own room, leaving a sleepy footman to extinguish the lights.

Lord Dorrington’s room, unlike Alyna’s, was panelled with wood that was dark with age.

It had been the Master’s bedroom ever since the house had been first built.

The windows overlooking the lake were closely curtained. But, although it was summer, there was a small fire burning in the fireplace, for it was a very large room.

The huge four-poster with the family Coat-of-Arms emblazoned in red silk, glowed like a jewel in the centre of the room. When Lord Dorrington got into bed, he could see the posts large and solid in the light from the fire.

He closed his eyes and began to think of the next day.

He had sent a groom to London to collect not only more gowns for Alyna but also a riding habit.

He had the feeling that she would look very elegant mounted on a horse. He decided that she should ride a mare, which, with a touch of Arab strain in her, he considered an exceptional animal.

His mind was full of plans, but nevertheless he was just falling asleep, when he heard the communicating door between Alyna’s bedroom and his open.

Then, as he thought that he must be mistaken, he heard someone lock the other door that led onto the landing.

He sat up in bed.

“What is it?” he asked.

A small figure sped across the room and before he could move Alyna flung herself onto the bed.

He felt her hands frantically reaching out to find him.

Then she was clinging to him and in a voice strangled and so fearful as to be almost incoherent, she whispered,

“There is a man – outside. I saw – him, he was – hiding in the shrubs! And I – thought I heard – him coming – up the stairs.”

She hid her face against Lord Dorrington’s shoulder. As his arms went round her, he found that she was rigid with terror.

“It’s all right, Alyna,” he said quietly. “I am sure there is no one in the house. There are two nightwatchmen and anyone would find it difficult to break in.”

“I saw him – I saw him!” she gasped. “The Prince – has sent – someone to abduct me or perhaps – kill me.”