“I should like to tell you many things,” Lord Lynche said, “but that is something I cannot do. As it is, I can only ask you not to judge me too harshly.”

Carina looked at him in surprise and then remembered his laughter the night before when he had seen Dipa’s Birth Certificate and his own Marriage Certificate.

“I would not presume to sit in judgment on you, Lord Lynche,” she said quietly, “I leave that to your – conscience.”

As she turned and walked quickly up the stairs without looking back, she sensed that he stood still for some seconds gazing after her before he turned and walked away.

Upstairs Carina found Dipa still asleep and, after a short delay. Mrs. Barnstaple came up to say that Miss Matthews was looking for the thermometer, but they had decided that when she brought it they would not wake the child as he seemed to be sleeping peacefully.

“He’ll find the climate a bit trying after the heat in his own country,” Mrs. Barnstaple said. “You will have to look out for chills, croup and all sorts of ailments during the winter. This place can be as cold as charity. I can’t really understand them wanting the child to come here of all places.”

“The heat was – too much for him,” Carina said quickly.

“That seems queer, considering he ought to be used to it,” Mrs. Barnstaple remarked.

“I know,” Carina agreed, “but that is what I was told and I expect, seeing who he is, they had the best doctors.”

“I am sure they did,” Mrs. Barnstaple smiled. “Money is no object to them. Oh well, it’s a pity we can’t say the same, and especially his Lordship if it comes to that.”

It was obvious that Mrs. Barnstaple was going to be indiscreet and confide in her. Carina wished that she could prevent it but she knew that it would only hurt the elderly woman who had shown her nothing but kindness since her arrival.

“Take his Lordship now – ” Mrs. Barnstaple was obviously bursting to tell what she knew to someone. “ – Mr. Newman told me in confidence that his Lordship has lost thousands of pounds every night since that Sir Percy Rockley has been here.”

“But why does Lord Lynche gamble for such high stakes?” Carina asked. “He does not look the gambling type – not like the other guests in the house.”

“If you ask me they are mostly Sir Percy’s friends,” Mrs. Barnstaple said scornfully. “I never thought Mr. Justin would turn out like this. Such a sweet little boy he was and one of the most attractive young men you could imagine when he was at Eton.”

“What changed him?” Carina enquired.

She did not mean to be drawn into this discussion, yet somehow she could not help herself.

“It was after Mr. Giles died,” Mrs. Barnstaple replied. “I don’t think Mr. Justin ever wanted to be the heir.”