As if for the first time he realised that she was a stranger and someone who was asking questions, the valet stared at her and with hostility in his voice asked,

“Who are you? I ought not to have asked you in here.”

He looked towards the stairs and suddenly he was cringing before her.

“Don’t tell anybody,” he pleaded. “If her Ladyship found out, I’d lose me job. You’ve been a help to me, I’m not sayin’ you haven’t, but don’t tell anyone where you’ve been or what you’ve seen. Promise?”

“I think a doctor should see that man’s wound as I am not certain it does not need a stitch in it,” Carina replied.

“Now see here,” the valet said nervously, “I’ll attend to him as I’ve always done. I lost me head, but he’ll be all right now. He’s fond of me, he is really and we get along fine.”

“If you get on so well,” Carina said, “why was he hitting you?”

“He can’t help it, I’m tellin’ you,” the valet replied almost truculently. “He loses his temper at times, it just comes over him and then he just doesn’t know what he’s a-doin’.”

He looked down at the man on the floor.

“He doesn’t always know his own strength either,” he added ruefully.

“That is going to be a nasty bruise on your face,” Carina said quietly.

“Now, don’t you worry about me,” the valet replied. “I’m all right, I tell you and so is his Nibs, so long as I’m here to look after him. But mum’s the word. You’re a lady, you wouldn’t break your word of honour, would you?”

“No,” Carina answered. “Not if I gave it to you.”

“Give it to me then. Come on, be a sport,” the valet pleaded again. “It ain’t none of your business and you knows it.”

“If he gets worse, will you promise to ask somebody to send for a doctor?” Carina enquired.

“I’ll swear on me dead mother’s head, if you give me your promise not to breathe a word of this to no one,” the valet bargained.

Carina smiled, she could not help it.

“Very well,” she said. “I promise. But if he runs a fever or does not wake up in an hour or so, you must get in touch with someone who is responsible for him.”

The valet put out his hand.

“I knew you were a sport,” he smiled. “I trust you, mind. Some women you can’t trust further than you can see ’em, but you’re a lady, I knew it as soon as I clapped me peepers on you.”

“I am only a Governess, as it happens,” Carina said with a little smile.