Carina quickly put her fingers up to her lips to prevent herself from saying that she had seen him and had bandaged the wound.

“We both realised a long time ago that a lack of balance might be expected at any time due to the disease he was suffering from,” Lord Lynche continued. “Giles died in the fire, but he felt nothing, and knew nothing. It was perhaps the most magnificent funeral pyre any man could have.”

“And Major Hartley? Will he be satisfied?” Carina asked.

“Major Hartley has nothing to show for his suspicions,” Lord Lynche replied. “There is only the spiteful allegation of Rockley and his man that someone wanted by the Police was hiding in The Castle and that there was a Tudor Priest’s hole where he could be concealed. But Major Hartley has nothing by which he can confirm these rumours and that part of The Castle has been completely destroyed.”

“And now?” Carina asked.

“Now I must put right the wrong that has been done since my father’s death,” Lord Lynche said, unconsciously squaring his shoulders. “I took the title knowing my brother was alive and it was something I could not refuse my mother in the circumstances. But I had no idea that my brother had married or that he had a child.”

“I thought he was yours,” Carina said in a low voice.

“Of course you did. And so did Chi-Yun, because all she read in the newspapers was that the son of the late Lord Lynche had inherited the title. I don’t suppose that Giles ever told her that he had a brother.”

“But – Dipa?” Carina said anxiously.

“Dipa is Lord Lynche and therefore must be acknowledged and in time take his place as the Head of the Family.”

“And you – what happens to you?” Carina asked.

“I have already told you, I have nothing,” Lord Lynche replied. “In my father’s will, and indeed all through the centuries, everything has been given to the eldest son. I had meant to go into the Foreign Office and carve myself some sort of career, but, when Giles was sent into exile, my mother made me stay at home. My father was not well, his life hung on a thread for about five years before he died. She made up her mind what must be done if he died before Giles. And because I loved her, I agreed to all the wrong she suggested.”

“Perhaps it was not wrong,” Carina said gently. “She could not bear to have her son hanged and, when he did die, you would have become Lord Lynche – except for Dipa.”

“Except for Dipa,” Lord Lynche repeated.

He drew a deep breath and walked away from her towards the window where he stood gazing out into the distance.