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handle turn. She looked around but there was nowhere to hide. She braced herself for the startled look of whoever was about to enter the room, then the door opened and she saw the last person she wanted to see.
    It was Lord Deverill.

CHAPTER THREE
    “Lord Deverill,” she exclaimed in surprise. “What are you doing here?”
    “You left the supper room very quickly,” he said, looking at her intently. “I wondered whether anything was the matter?”
    “No,” she said hurriedly. “Nothing at all.”
    He did not immediately reply, but by the way he was looking at her she could tell that he did not believe her. Then he said, “I wondered if Elwin had said anything to upset you.”
    “Of course not. What could he possibly say that would upset me?”
    She spoke with a show of bravado, but she was becoming increasingly aware of the fact that he was not deceived. She did not want to tell him what Mr. Elwin had said, however, because it was too humiliating.
    “I don’t know,” he replied. “That’s what I am asking you.”
    “He didn’t say anything,” she said defiantly.
    “In that case, why did you stand up in the middle of supper?”
    “Did I?” she prevaricated.
    “Yes. You did. You flushed, then looked angry, then half rose from your seat, as though you meant to walk out of the room.”
    “You must be mistaken. You were busy talking to the other guests and you must have misunderstood.”
    “Then why are you wringing your hands?”
    “I’m—” She was about to say, I’m not , when looking down, she realized she was doing just that.
    “Why did you stand up?” he asked again.
    “I…I have been here too long. I must return to the ballroom, or else Maria will be wondering where I am,” she said.
    She walked towards him but he did not move aside and she was forced to step round him, brushing against him as she passed. The contact was unnerving enough, but it was far worse when his hand caught her wrist in a vice-like grip.
    “You’re not going anywhere until you’ve told me what Elwin said.”
    She was suddenly aware of how large he was. He seemed to have grown so that he almost filled the room.
    “Let go,” she said, feeling her pulse start to race. “You’re hurting me.” She wrenched her hand away from him.
    “I’m trying to help you,” he said through gritted teeth. “Your brother had some dubious friends, Cassandra, and you’d be wise to keep away from them. Now tell me, what did Elwin say?”
    “Let me pass,” she said defiantly, raising her head.
    “No,” he returned sharply.
    “Do you mean to keep me a prisoner here?” she demanded.
    “If necessary, yes.”
    She looked him in the eye, startled, and saw that he was serious.
    “This is abominable,” she said.
    “If Elwin said nothing wrong, then you won’t mind telling me what it was,” he remarked steadily.
    “It was nothing,” she said, throwing him off. “He told me about the Prince of Wales and his secret marriage, his building plans, and—”
    “The truth.”
    He folded his arms, which gave him an even bulkier shape in the twilight, and his large body cast dark shadows on the floor.
    Cassandra turned away from him and walked over to the mantelpiece, gathering her thoughts. She straightened the clock and fiddled with a candlestick, unwilling to speak, and yet knowing that he would not let her go if she did not. She heard a slight sound of movement and felt him approaching her until she knew he was standing behind her.
    “He has said something to upset you,” he said, more gently. “I tried to warn you. I told you that not all of Rupert’s friends were respectable. I didn’t want you to be hurt. What did he say?”
    “He said…” She turned to face him. “He said that he would introduce me to some gentlemen who would…who would…”
    “Yes?”
    She bit her lips, then said, “…who would offer me carte blanche.”
    “Ah. I see.”
    He didn’t seem surprised. In fact, he seemed relieved. His calm