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has got any deeper feelings for me.
That changes everything.’
    ‘Why?’
Alex asked in a hoarse whisper.
    ‘Because
I would never make him happy. It would not be fair. Oh, Alex, why cannot we
just escape together?’
    ‘And
live happily ever after? Already chasing for a new adventure, are you?’
    ‘I
am in no mood for jokes. What shall I do? I want to be with you, not become
Lady Timsbury!’
    Dinah
knew that she was pushing too far. There was never any mention of a future
together between them. She had been open about her prospect marriage and he
never tried to change her mind. But what began as an adventure, her own secret
experience, turned into something much more serious, deeper and almost
frightening. For at this very moment she realised that she would not be able to
face the future without Alex. And now, what was he going to say?
    His
tone was cautious and steady when he replied:
    ‘Listen,
Dinah, listen carefully. You must go back home and carry on as if nothing
happened.’
    So
that was it. For him she was just a diversion and now he wanted her to carry on
with her life, so he could go back to his. And what was his life? She did not
even have time to ask him.
    ‘Dinah,
look at me’ he took her face in his hands and turned it towards him.
    She
looked into his burning eyes, but in the darkness could not read their
expression.
    ‘Go
inside now and act normal. Tomorrow get ready for you ball. And, please,
promise me to look more beautiful than ever.’
    ‘Oh,
Alex! Will you come and see me tomorrow?’
    ‘I
will. I will see you tomorrow. Trust me. And now go!’
    He
kissed her lingeringly and, reluctantly, she made her way back to the drawing
room. Each time they parted, she reflected, he asked her to trust him. And so
far he had not let her down. She clung to this thought and somehow struggled
through the rest of the evening.
     
    Alex
looked at her departing silhouette and absentmindedly sucked at the little mark
where her teeth bit through his skin. Their passionate and rapturous lovemaking
was enough to leave him dazed. But Dinah’s readiness to throw everything and
elope with him stunned him. Could it be that she really cared for him? A
stranger with a face that made people look away?
    She
preferred a life with him to the comfort and privilege of becoming Lady
Timsbury.
    ‘Until
tomorrow, Dinah!’ he whispered and hoped that all was going to turn out well.
     
     Next
afternoon Dinah was dressing for the ball. She remembered that Alex wanted her
to look especially beautiful, but she could not guess why. If he intended to
meet her somewhere in secret again, it hardly mattered what she wore. Still,
even she herself was pleased with her looks for once, despite a rather
disturbed night’s sleep.
    Last
night she managed to escape to her room early, pleading a headache. Everybody
was very understanding. The girl was to meet up with her prospect husband, no
wonder she suffered from nerves.
    There
was a knock on the door and her maid came in. She carried a little package in
her hands.
    ‘What
is it, Betsy?’ Dinah turned away from the mirror.
    ‘There’s
a packet for you, Miss Benson.’
    The
girl moved forward and passed Dinah the parcel. It was addressed in Captain
Legrant’s hand.
    ‘When
did it arrive?’ Dinah asked.
    ‘Must
have come with the letters but got left behind. Everything is in an uproar with
the guests, ball and all. ’
    Betsy’s
fingers closed on a coin that she was given in exchange for delivering the
packet and not betraying who asked her to do it.
    Dinah’s
heart was beating very fast. She was dying to tear the package open but could
not do it in front of the maid.
    ‘Thank
you, Betsy. Will you come in half an hour to do my hair?’
    ‘Yes,
ma’am.’ The girl curtsied. ‘Oh, and by the way, Lord Timsbury’s carriage
arrived and some of his servants. He’ll be coming later on a horseback’
    What
condescension! thought Dinah coldly. She wondered if he would arrive