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enjoy herself?
    But she was here to work, she reminded herself sternly. Any distractions were a betrayal of her father.
    So she forced herself to change the subject, and spoke decisively,
    "What I find so interesting is that you are always looking out for something different. That's very unusual in an Englishman. He is usually far too complacent and does not like change of any sort."
    There was a slight pause before the Earl replied. He seemed to be a little disconcerted.
    "That is unkind," he said at last, "but, I feel, true. We've tended to accept things as they've always been, and believed that because we are English we are right in everything we say and do."
    Dorina laughed.
    "Yes, I'm afraid that's how we are."
    "It's something we have to change," he added firmly, "and, Miss Martin, that is what I intend to do."
    "I think you've been very successful already," Dorina replied. "But you must realise that there is a great deal more for you to tackle."
    "Are you challenging me?" the Earl enquired.
    "Of course," Dorina said. "There's always room for improvement."
    The Earl was silent for a moment.
    Then he said,
    "You are the most extraordinary young woman I have ever met. I'm sure you have thought seriously about what you are saying and I know it should be an inspiration to me, but why are you so anxious for me to do more?"
    "That's easy. Because you can do it. Although I've only been with you a short while, I'm sure that you are capable of doing great things."
    She felt, as she was saying this, as if the words were being put into her mouth.
    Then she suddenly asked herself what she was doing.
    She was here for the sake of her father's business and her father's memory. Yet she found herself trying to inspire the Earl to greater heights.
    "But why are you so sure of that?" he asked, trying to see her in the gloom of the carriage.
    "I don't know," she said slowly. "But I am – very sure."
    The next moment she felt the carriage begin to slow.
    "We're here," he said.
    He sounded dazed, and almost relieved. Dorina too felt relieved. Something was happening that was carrying her away too fast.
    She needed to stop and think, but how could she think when her heart was pounding?
    The carriage had stopped. The door was being pulled open.
    The Earl got out first and turned back to assist Dorina. She felt the warmth of his hands holding her, the sense of leashed power. Then he released her.
    The restaurant was small, almost hidden away, but discreetly luxurious. The building was decorated with models of ships and fish, and the door through which they entered was graced with a sea serpent overhead.
    They were shown to a table in an alcove that looked out directly on to the River Thames.
    'This is certainly unusual,' she thought to herself, 'and that is exactly what the Earl is. Unusual. In fact, I've never known anyone like him. Not even Papa.'
    He ordered their dinner and they settled down to talk. At first they discussed steam pressure and other engineering details, but gradually Dorina worked him round to talking about himself.
    "Everyone thought," he said, "that because my father had a title and I inherited it, that I should merely be a social figure with no particular interest other than ballrooms and race meetings."
    Dorina laughed.
    "Then they certainly made a mistake," she said.
    "And I intend to do more," he replied. "I like inventing things. It pleases me to think a train is going faster because I have thought of new improvements, which those who invented it did not think of.
    "It's what I've wanted to do ever since I could remember. So far I have succeeded a little, but not as much as I want. There's still much to do with great new inventions still to come."
    "You mean, like the horseless carriage?" Dorina asked. "So many of your letters are from people wanting to know about it, that it must be on the horizon."
    "So people say," he agreed. "But just because everyone's talking about it doesn't mean it's about to happen. Of