“I am sure you are imagining it,” Lord Dorrington said firmly. “After all, it might be a gamekeeper that you saw in the garden. They often walk about at night at this time of year when the birds are nesting. There are foxes to be killed and other vermin.”

He could feel the terrified beat of her heart against his, yet she did not relax her hold or move away from the shelter of his arms.

She was trembling and he realised that it was partly with cold. She was wearing only a soft silk nightgown that he had ordered to be sent with her other clothes to Shenley Manor.

Taking one arm from around her, he pulled the bedclothes up so that they covered her shoulders.

“You are safe, Alyna,” he said gently. “Have you forgotten that you are my wife? No one shall hurt you.”

“I thought – I heard – someone coming up the – stairs,” she murmured.

“Would you like me to go and look?” he asked.

“No – no!”

Her hands still held onto him frantically and he felt her press herself even closer against him.

“Then I don’t think that anything will disturb us,” Lord Dorrington said. “You have locked the door and let me reassure you by telling you that I have a pistol in the drawer beside my bed.”

“Is it – loaded?” Alyna asked.

“It’s loaded,” Lord Dorrington replied. “So you see, Alyna, that at the moment we are impregnable. What is the point of a Knight Errant if he cannot fight for you?”

“You fought for – me – yesterday,” Alyna said, “but someone might – kill you while you are – asleep.”

“I feel that is very unlikely,” Lord Dorrington answered.

He knew that the calmness with which he was deliberately speaking was having an effect. Her hold on him was relaxing and he could feel the warmth coming back into her body.

Very gently he laid her down against the pillows and pulled the bedclothes up to her chin.

“I want to look out of the window,” he said, “and see if this strange man is still about.”

“No – no, please – stay with me,” she cried.

“I will stay as long as you like,” Lord Dorrington answered. “I only wish to set your mind at rest.”

“I saw the – man,” Alyna whispered, “and I am sure that his – skin was – dark.”

“Could you really tell that at night?” Lord Dorrington enquired.

“You think I am – stupid,” she said with a little sob.

“I think you did something very sensible,” Lord Dorrington contradicted. “You locked the door and came in here to me. You knew I would protect you.”

She gave a little sigh and he was aware that her terror was passing.

“I shall – have to go – back,” she said as if she was following the train of her own thoughts.

“There is no reason,” Lord Dorrington said. “You can stay here.”

There was silence for a moment.

Then she said,