‘Miss Lightfoot.’ He made a small bow and then, in a most irregular fashion, offered me his hand. I stared at it, before cautiously taking it into mine. Then, in one quick motion, he raised me to my feet.

‘Miss Lightfoot, would you do me the honour of accompanying me upon a call?’ he enquired.

I immediately threw Mrs Elliot a look of concern.

‘That would depend entirely upon the nature of that call, sir,’ I responded. ‘I cannot think what manner of call would be made at such an hour.’

‘Dear Miss Lightfoot,’ began Mrs Elliot, ‘you need have no uncertainties about the nature of this errand. Indeed, you will thank me upon its completion. It is in your interests to go at once with Mr Drummond or I fear the opportunity will be lost,’ said she, nodding to the young man.

My eyes darted between them, and then to Madame de Flaghac, who simply returned my look of question with a faint simper.

‘Miss Lightfoot, if you will?’ he implored, offering me his arm.

I fixed my uneasy gaze firmly on Mrs Elliot. I could not prevent myself from thinking that this was the scheme she had designed for me all along: that Drummond was intended as a paramour.

‘My dear,’ she now beseeched me, ‘you must place your trust in me. Will you not grant me that honour? Will you not trust her who took you to her bosom, who has sheltered you for these many days?’

I hesitated. For an instant I considered resuming my seat once more and refusing to move. But what then? I could not risk offending my only friend; she who had preserved me from the streets of a foreign city, she who had spared me the abuses of a brute and healed my wounds.

‘Miss Lightfoot.’ She gestured with a nod of her head to the door. Her soft eyes entreated me with the kindness of a mother. ‘Do trust me.’

I looked at Mr Drummond and took hold of his arm.

Chapter 10

MR DRUMMOND MARCHED us through the corridor at a brisk pace. He pushed past a pair of intriguers pressed against the wall, whose courtship we interrupted. The man hissed at us, but my companion paid no heed. He fairly pulled me along beside him, down the empty stair and beyond the doors to the rue de Richelieu. There awaited his coach and valet at the ready.

‘Sir,’ I begged him, ‘to where do we repair? What errand is this?’

‘Ah,’ he replied. ‘You will soon learn, Lady Allenham.’

I started at the mention of that name. Indeed, I felt my mouth part in shock. Drummond roared with laughter.

I found no humour in this at all. Rather, I had grown quite agitated.

‘Pray, Mr Drummond, do you intend to play me some . . . some trick?’ I demanded.