“Sahin, the White Eunuch, who gave you the key of the trunk, and Mihri, who is the Sultan’s favourite, are both Circassians and were once in my father’s service in our home at Balaclava. They helped me, knowing that if I had been discovered in Constantinople I should have been torn to pieces by the mob!”

“There must have been other ways of protecting you!” Lord Castleford snapped.

“None that we could think of,” Yamina said.

“You told me you were looking after your sick father,” he said accusingly.

“I was,” Yamina answered, “but my father died and, because a house-to-house search was taking place in the City, my Turkish servant who had been hiding us ever since we left Russia took me to Mihri.”

“It all sounds very plausible,” Lord Castleford sneered. “You expect me to believe that that was the only reason for your choosing to accompany me on this voyage?”

Yamina stepped from the trunk onto the floor of the cabin before she replied,

“Do you really think I had any other motive, my Lord? I assure you, until I heard you speak on the quayside before you stepped aboard the Caïque, I had no idea that it was you who had an interview with the Sultan before joining this ship.”

“A very strange coincidence!” Lord Castleford said and once again he was sneering.

“If you really believe I could have had any wish to accompany an enemy of my country aboard a British ship, you must be half-witted!”

There was no doubt now that she was as angry as he was and they faced each other defiantly, their eyes dark with rage. Lord Castleford’s lips were set in a hard line and his chin was square.

“I should send you back!” he said at length.

“You are unable to do that because of the scandal it would cause,” Yamina retorted. “Besides if you do, I shall excuse my action by claiming that you begged me to run away with you!”

“That is just the sort of thing I would expect you to say!” Lord Castleford said. “Who can trust a woman, least of all a Russian?”

Yamina seated herself on one of the armchairs.

“That sort of remark will get you nowhere,” she said calmly.

“I am just wondering whether to go to the Captain and tell him the truth,” Lord Castleford replied. “He can keep you prisoner. I am sure a cabin is available somewhere and, when we reach Athens, he can put you on a Steamer, which will return you to Constantinople.”

“Why not drop me overboard?” Yamina asked defiantly, “or better still, hand me over to the soldiers. Most of them will not have seen a woman for some months. I am certain I will be welcome!”

“It would serve you right if I did exactly that!” Lord Castleford riposted.