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Elswick watching her with a strange expression on his face.
    Only when they were in the corridor did Lavina realise that the Marquis had not followed them, as courtesy indicated, and as a man would normally do for his fiancée.
    So much for being an attentive fiancé, she thought.
    Or perhaps this was how he thought attentive fiancés behaved!
    The news had spread through the house like wildfire. As they walked through the corridors towards the front door Lavina realised that they were being watched by a hundred eyes.
    Servants looked out to catch a glimpse of the woman who had apparently achieved the impossible. If she looked at them they vanished, only to reappear the moment she had passed.
    But in the hall they were lining the stairs, frankly staring. And just before she climbed into her carriage she glanced back to see the windows crowded with faces.
    As they went down the drive, Lavina turned towards her father and clasped his hand between her own.
    "We have won, we have won!" she said.
    "I hope so and believe so," the Earl replied. "At the same time, my darling, you may find that strange young man somewhat difficult."
    "It does not matter," Lavina answered. "I can put up with him, because I know that in the end I will escape him. After all, the worst I know of him is that he is very rude. And the best I know of him is that he is putting himself out to help me."
    "He certainly seems to be exerting himself to do
    everything thoroughly," the Earl agreed. "His idea about the telegram was excellent. And after he had refused us so definitely, too."
    "Yes, it was strange how he changed his mind so suddenly," Lavina mused. "In fact, I can't help the feeling that he's doing this for his own reasons, and not for us at all."
    "Yes, I too received that impression," agreed her father. "But how it could matter to him I can't imagine."
    Then, because he had a romantic heart, he added,
    "I remember it happened when he turned round. I wonder if he saw you in a better light, realised how beautiful you are, and fell instantly in love with you."
    "Papa!" she exclaimed scornfully.
    "All right, my dear, it was just one of my fancies, you know."
    "It's an appalling idea. Rude, arrogant, insufferable, bigoted – "
    "If this is how you talk about the man who's doing you such a huge favour, I dread to think what you'd say about an enemy," her father observed mildly.
    It flashed through her mind that, in his own way, the Marquis was an enemy, but she did not trouble her father with the thought. He would not have understood.
    Instead, she replied,
    "That's quite a different thing. He's the last man in the world I'd want to have in love with me. Why, he'd be almost as bad as Prince Stanislaus."
    Her father patted her hand.
    "If you say so, my dear."
*
    As soon as they reached Ringwood Place both Lavina and her father realised that something had happened.
    The butler, who admitted them, was in a state of agitation.
    "The Queen's messenger called while you were away, My Lord," he said, holding himself very upright, as befitted a man who spoke of the Queen.
    "Oh heavens!" Lavina exclaimed. "Already. I thought we would have a little more time."
    For a horrible moment she could see all their gains slipping away.
    "Never fear, my darling," the Earl said, trying to sound more certain than he felt. "I will be very firm."
    "But this man has obviously come to take you to see Her Majesty. How firm can you be when you confront her face to face?"
    The Earl, who was wondering that himself, drew himself up.
    "I shall say what has to be said," he declared. "They shall not have you. Where is the messenger, Denton?"
    "He is not here, My Lord," the butler declared. "He left a letter which he required me to give you as soon as you arrived. And here it is. He says he will return in an hour."
    The Earl took the letter and mopped his brow. But as he was about to open it Lavina whisked it out of his hand.
    "How unfortunate that we should have missed him," she said.