As he spoke, he glanced at the road ahead and saw as he suspected, many more men were hurrying to join the throng that had just passed them. The woman must have seen it too because she said quickly,

“That would be very kind.”

She turned to her servant who was still standing in front of her and Lord Castleford saw that he was a middle-aged Turk with a quiet respectable appearance.

“Go home, Hamid,” the lady said. “This gentleman will take care of me. I don’t think it wise for me to walk any further.”

“That is true, Mistress.”

Lord Castleford bent towards her, she put up her arms and he lifted her onto the saddle in front of him.

She was so light that she seemed almost to fly into the position he intended, sitting sideways so that with his left arm he could hold her in place, while he held the reins with his right.

The bonnet she wore tied under her chin was a small one and did not impede her from leaning back against him, making it easy for him to control his horse without her being in any way an encumbrance.

Slowly, without haste, Lord Castleford edged his mount forward with an expert hand, keeping as close as possible to the walls and drawing frequently to a standstill to allow the crowds to pass.

Fortunately everyone was so intent on joining the rioters ahead of them, whose shouts could still be heard, that they did not trouble themselves with either Lord Castleford or his burden.

After a short distance, he turned into a narrow alley to the left that held nothing more fearsome than a few tired-looking donkeys bringing fresh provisions into the City from the villages outside.

Soon they were clear even of the alleyways and, after passing a Mosque and a few unimportant houses, they were on open ground.

“I think we would be wise at the moment to make a detour,” Lord Castleford said. “If you will tell me where you live, we will approach the City from the other side which will certainly be safer and more savoury than the way I have just come.”

He had an idea where the crowd was taking their prisoner, but he intended to take no chances.

At the rumour of an execution, with or without the law, mobs would be hastening from all parts of the City and, although they had been fortunate so far in escaping without incident, the execution of one foreigner might easily make the crowds thirst for the execution of others.

“That poor man!” the lady Lord Castleford was conveying said in a soft voice. “I cannot bear to – think of what he is – suffering!”

“I imagine he is past having feelings of any sort by now,” Lord Castleford replied.

Now they were safe he looked at her for the first time and realised that she was very lovely.