“I find him delightful,” Lady Glossop said firmly, as if she resented her guests being criticised. “I have known Ulric Dorrington for many years and, despite his addiction to fashion, he has, I believe, a great deal of intelligence.”

Neither of her guests however was listening to her.

“I wonder where Alyna can be,” Lady Maude asked sharply. “I told her to come back to my side as soon as each dance ended.”

“I last saw her about twenty minutes ago,” the Prince said. “She was with a vacant-looking fop whose cravat was already wilting in the heat.”

“I expect they have gone into the garden,” Lady Glossop said. “It’s very hot.”

“Alyna is not supposed to go into the garden,” Lady Maude snapped. “If I have told the child once, I have told her a thousand times that girls who sit out at dances earn the reputation of being fast.”

“After tonight I shall have the privilege of looking after Alyna for you,” the Prince said suavely. “I shall be very attentive. When she is in my care, Alyna will not make mistakes.”

Lady Maude smiled at him.

“No, Your Highness, I am sure you will look after her perfectly. After all the poor child needs the protection of a man like yourself. It has been hard for us both since my dear husband died.”

She made her voice sound quite plaintive.

The Prince, however, was not listening, while his dark eyes were searching the crowd of dancers moving back into the ballroom from the garden for the beginning of another dance.

There was no sign of Alyna.

*

Lord Dorrington’s well-sprung carriage, drawn by a fine pair of perfectly matched roans, came to a standstill just before the bridge.

A footman jumped down from the box, but almost before he could open the door a small figure in white came running from the shadows of the yew hedge to clamber into the carriage.

“You have come!” she said breathlessly. “I was so afraid – you would change your mind.”

“I think those are the words I should be saying to you,” Lord Dorrington said with a faint smile. “What is your address?”

“36 Hertford Street,” Alyna replied.

The footman arranged a rug over Alyna’s knees and the carriage started off.

It was not far from Chelsea to Hertford Street, where Lady Maude had rented a small and uncomfortable house for the Season. But the roads were narrow and the carriage could not proceed at any great speed.

“Did you see Mama?” Alyna asked.

“She was waiting for you with Lady Glossop,” he replied, “and Prince Ahmadi was also with them.”

“You met him?”

“Yes, I met him.”

“Can you now realise what I – feel about him?”

“I think perhaps I can,” Lord Dorrington said. “But, Alyna, you will have to marry some time. Even if you evade the Prince, there will be other men.”