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enjoying your evening.”
    Lady Merriman got up. “Thank you, Inspector. And if your men would like to come in for some supper in the servants’ hall, they would be most welcome.”
    “Good of you, my lady,” he said, “but I think they should stay on duty around the house at least until it’s light. Just in case. We can’t be too careful where these foreign assassins are concerned, can we? Look what started the Great War.”
    “Then I’ll have some food sent out to them,” Lady Merriman said. “Tell me, do they like smoked salmon? Maybe pasties would be safer. And are they allowed to drink on duty? We’ve a very innocuous punch.” And she went out of the room before the stunned man could answer any of these questions.
    Before he could leave the room, I went over to him. “Tell me, Inspector,” I said. “What did this man you arrested look like?”
    “Nasty, foreign-looking chap,” he said. “Unshaven. Big dark fellow. Shabbily dressed. He put up a good fight too, when our lads brought him to the ground. Biting and snarling like some kind of wild animal, he was.”
    Now I was even more confused. That didn’t sound like my dancing partner either.
    Prince Otto had now come to join me. “Do not concern yourself,
liebchen
,” he said. “I am sure we are safe and all is well. Listen. The music has begun again. Shall we go and dance?”
    I could hardly refuse as other couples were now making their way back to the ballroom. As we walked he said to me, “I have been thinking. You seem to be a pleasant young woman. It is true you are not a great beauty, but you look wholesome and healthy enough. If I really must marry, then I could do worse. It will stop the family from constantly reminding me of my duty.” Then to my horror he slipped his arm around my waist and drew me closer to him. “And you would have an agreeable life with me. Berlin is a delightful city with many amusements. And I would allow you much freedom. You would even be free to take a lover, providing you were discreet.”
    “And you would be free to take a mistress?” I asked innocently.
    He chuckled. “But of course. That is how it is done with our kind of people. But at least a marriage fits the bill, so to speak, doesn’t it? It cements family ties across Europe. It provides each of our countries with a valuable connection.” I was about to remind him that his grandfather the kaiser and our King George were first cousins but it hadn’t prevented the worst war the world had ever known. But I decided there was no point. Otto went on cheerfully, “Everyone would be happy.”
    “Not me,” I said and was amazed at my bravery. “I wouldn’t be happy, Otto.”
    He stopped and looked stunned. “You do not like me?”
    “Oh, I’m sure you’re very nice,” I said, “but I don’t know you. And I certainly don’t love you. When I marry, it will only be for love.”
    He laughed. “You are still young and inexperienced. I understand this. When you grow older you will realize that marriage is only a formality, designed to keep wealth and power among the right families. And to produce an heir. Love does not come into this.”
    “Well, it should,” I said. “I do not wish to spend my life with someone I don’t love, watching him sneak off to be with his mistresses. That’s not for me. I want to marry for love and live happily ever after.”
    “Your trouble is that you have too much of your great-grandmother Queen Victoria in you,” he said.
    “You’re right,” I said. “I’m proud to be like her. And until I find my Prince Albert, I shall remain fancy-free.”
    “Your king and queen will not be pleased about this.”
    “I think they’ll understand,” I said. “And if they don’t like it—I’m only a very minor member of the family. Of no consequence at all. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m feeling very tired.”
    I pulled away and gave him a polite sort of bow and went upstairs. I was feeling rather proud of myself by