“What can we do?' he asked. “I love you, I cannot let you go – and yet I cannot ask you to be my wife.”

There was silence for a moment.

Then Carina said in a very low voice, hardly above a whisper,

“Are you asking me to become – your mistress?”

“Good God, no!”

Lord Lynche shouted the words at her and they seemed to echo round the room.

“Do you really believe that I am as bad, as despicable, as that?” he raged. “No man can look at you without thinking that you are the most beautiful women he has ever seen. But do you really think that I could stoop as low as Percy and try to seduce you? No, I was not thinking anything like that. It is just – oh Lord! What can I say?”

He seemed almost like a man distraught as he strode away from her, a frown between his eyes, his hands clenched and his whole body tense with emotion.

“I don’t understand – ” Carina said pitifully.

The library door opened as she spoke.

“I am busy,” Lord Lynche said sharply. “I do not wish to be disturbed.”

“I am sorry, my Lord,” Newman answered. “The Chief Constable, Major Hartley, is here,”

It seemed to Carina that there was something strange in Newman’s voice.

There was silence for a moment before Lord Lynche asked,

“Is he alone?”

“No, my Lord, Newman replied.

Carina looked in astonishment at the expression on Lord Lynche’s face.

He seemed to take a deep breath before saying,

“Ask him to come in.”

“Very good, my Lord.”

Newman closed the door and Carina looked across at Lord Lynche.

“What does he want?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” Lord Lynche said slowly, as if he was choosing every word. “I don’t know.”

She felt that he was on his guard, for he did not speak to her, only moving to stand beside her on the hearthrug.

“Would you like me to go?” Carina asked.

“No, stay. It might be better,” he answered.

“Better for what?” Carina asked.

There was no time for the reply as Newman then announced,

“The Chief Constable, my Lord.”

A man entered the room alone. He was middle-aged with a military bearing and was wearing his official uniform.

Lord Lynche advanced and held out his hand.

“Good evening, Major Hartley. This is a surprise.”

“I am afraid it will be an unpleasant one,” Major Hartley answered.

“Indeed?”

Lord Lynche indicated a chair.

“Will you sit down and tell me what is troubling you? A glass of wine? It’s cold tonight.”

“No, thank you,” Major Hartley said.

He glanced at Carina, who felt uncomfortably that he wanted her out of the way.

“It would be best if I spoke to you alone,” Major Hartley said after a moment.

“Whatever you have to say can be said in front of Miss Claverly,” Lord Lynche answered. “She is entirely in my confidence.”