Hannah bit her lip. 'There is a narrow track, my lord, at the side of the house. It runs beside the garden wall.'

'A track, you say?'

'Yes sir. And there is a tree at the side of the track, a tree whose branches reach right over the wall. It has been used by the village boys to come in and steal apples from the orchard.' Hannah flushed and looked down at her apron, which she was twisting between her hands. 'It is not so high that it could not be climbed by someone wishing to enter the garden.....'

'But you said that she will not see me. What would she think of...... an intruder?'

Hannah looked up, fixing her eyes at some point past the viscount's shoulder.

'Certainly there are some gentlemen that I should not wish to see in my lady's garden, sir.'

The viscount lifted an eyebrow. 'Indeed?'

'Yes sir.'

'But you think - I should look for this tree?'

Hannah retreated back up the steps.

'Oh do not ask me, my lord. I could not advise you against my lady's wishes!' She quickly went inside and shut the door. As she listened to his footsteps on the gravel drive, she smiled to herself.

Elinor moved quickly from the rose garden to the shrubbery, making a mental note of the instructions she would give to her gardener later in the week. The air was warm within the sheltered garden and she pushed her cloak back over her shoulders as she walked, lifting her face to the sun. She turned onto a side-path and stopped abruptly, her mouth opening for a cry which never came. Before her stood Viscount Davenham, showing no sign of discomfiture as he bowed to her. Madame's eyes flashed angrily.

'I gave orders that you were not to be admitted!'

'Nor was I. I came over the wall.'

'Over the how dare you sir! You behave like a common thief!'

'I did it to steal time with you, Madame. Pray allow me to explain myself.'

She turned and began to walk quickly back towards the house.

'You did that very effectively at our last meeting! There can be nothing left to say!'

In a couple of long strides he was beside her.

'Lady, I mean you no harm! I want to apologise.'

'Too late, my lord.'

'No, I will not allow that!' He jumped in front of her, grabbing her arms and forcing her to stop. 'Pray, at the very least hear me! When we last met I was angry. I gave you no chance to defend yourself. That was wrong of me, will you not explain to me how I have misjudged you?'

Elinor glared at him, her breast heaving. She bit her lip, stormy green eyes meeting cool blue.

He said gently, 'I am willing to listen, and more than ready to believe I was in error.' He watched the fire die from her eyes, but she remained cautious. He continued: 'Will you not walk with me, Madame de Sange?'

She made no remonstrance as he drew her hand through his arm and led her back along the sheltered paths of the shrubbery. She remained tense, and there was an edge to her voice when she spoke to him.

'Well, sir?'

'Well, Madame! I saw you with Poyntz, in Paris, the night he died. I met you on the stairs as you ran away from his room. Even wrapped in your cloak I knew you.'

'Oh.'

'I cannot believe your affections were engaged?'

'They were not.'

'Then there was George Rowsell.'

'Yes.'

'Would you tell me you were not his mistress?'

'I am no man's mistress.'

'Yet they are both dead.'

She said in a tight voice: 'I did not kill either of them.'

'I know that, but to see you with Rowsell, a womaniser, man so coarse, and you '

'You know nothing of me.'

He heard the wistful note in her voice and stopped, pulling her round to face him.

'I do know you! I know you did not love Rowsell you could not love such a man! Will you not tell me why you gave him to believe you would marry him?'

Elinor looked up and realized her mistake as she found her eyes held by his intense gaze. She wanted to trust him, to tell him everything, but he was a man, and she could not bring herself to believe he was so very different from the rest.

'If if I tell you that I have -I had my reasons for befriending Rowsell, would that be sufficient?'

'No.'

The word stood between them, stark and uncompromising. Elinor realized it was important to explain, and she fought against herself in her attempt to do so.

'I did not love him.'

'And Poyntz?'

Her lip curled. 'He died of over-indulgence.'

'But you were there.'

'Yes.'

'Why?'

'I was his Nemesis.'

'Will you not explain?'

'I cannot!' She closed her eyes against the bewilderment she saw in his face. 'Pray my lord, do not question me further. I have told you more than any other living soul, save my faithful Hannah. At this time I can give you no more.'

'At this time does that mean that one day you will tell me?'

Aye, if I live! Aloud, she said: 'If you will keep faith with me, sir, and trust me.'

His wry smile appeared.

'I have no choice, since you will not let me help you.' He lifted her fingers to his lips and felt them tremble as he kissed them. 'I am your servant, ma'am, now and always.'

'Thank you.' The viscount had retained her hand and Elinor felt her resolve weakening. She said: 'You must go now, if you please.'

'And must I climb back over the wall?'

A reluctant smile curled her lips. She shook her head.

'I have a key to the wicket gate. I will let you out.'

She led him to a shady corner of the garden and unlocked the small door set into the wall.

'When will I see you again, Madame?'

'I I am going out of town for Christmas. I do not yet know when I shall return. I-' she looked up to find him staring down at her. Instinctively she stepped away, only to find the garden wall at her back. He put his hands on the wall on either side of her, trapping her. She knew he was going to kiss her, and as panic immobilised her body a whimper escaped her constricted throat.

The viscount stepped back, frowning at the terror he saw in her face.

'Elinor? Do I frighten you so much?'

She was trembling violently.

'N-no. It it is not you, sir, it is all men!'

'My dear child, what is it? Will you not tell me?'

'No, I cannot!' She leaned against the wall, afraid that her limbs would not support her. 'Please, please go now.'

'But will you not '

'Please you must leave me now!'

Davenham hesitated, but Elinor waved him away, and once he had stepped through the door she locked it as quickly as her trembling hands would allow, before giving way to her tears.

As the year drew to a close, Elinor made her plans for her forthcoming visit to Weald Hall. Since no time limit had been agreed for her stay, the house at Knight's Bridge must be kept open, she decided, with Hannah remaining in charge of a skeleton staff. This arrangement did not suit Mrs Grisson at all, as she was quick to inform Madame as they were packing her gowns into a large trunk, but Elinor was adamant. Seeing the older woman's distress, Elinor put her arms around Hannah and hugged her. 'My mind is quite made up, Hannah, I must go alone. Pray do not look so frightened, my dear. Boreland is merely flesh and blood, like you or I, and just as vulnerable.'

Mrs Grisson broke out of the embrace and paced the room, her emotions plain upon her face, although she did her best to conceal them. At length she turned to her mistress, her faded eyes pleading.

'Miss Nell, pray do not go! If you kill that man you will be found out and hanged for sure, and if he should remember who you are, he will most certainly do away with you!'

Elinor gave a small, twisted smile.

'In that case,' she said,' you may inform upon our friend Boreland, and have him executed for murder.' She held up a yellow gown, ignoring Hannah's anguished looks. 'Now, what do you think of this canary-coloured sack? Too many knots and ruffles for a lady in mourning for her lover, do you not agree?'

Realizing my lady would not be moved, Hannah sighed audibly, but refrained from any further argument.

Chapter Ten.

Wherein we learn of a lady's trust for a most untrustworthy person

In one of the small apartments of Leicester House, a lady stood by the window, looking out at the wintry sky. The December day was short and the room was already growing dark, but when a servant had disturbed her, bringing in a taper to light the candles, she had waved him away. There was still light enough, she reasoned, and the rosy glow of the blazing fire gave the room an air of intimacy. Nervously she pulled at the lace handkerchief between her fingers as she waited for her visitor to come upstairs: she had seen him arrive, but it seemed an age before she heard the discreet scratching upon the door, and the gentleman was shown in. She gave a faint smile of relief as she watched him enter, his elegant coat of grey silver-laced satin glowing richly in the firelight and as he made his bow to her the diamond stud in his hat flashed its own greeting.

'Your Highness.'

'My Lord Thurleigh.' She greeted him warmly as she came away from the window. 'I have anxiously awaited your return to Town. You have seen my sons?'

He shook his head. 'I called at Savile House, but was informed that the Prince was engaged and could not see me.'

And my Edward?'

'Similarly engaged, ma'am.'

The Princess of Wales made a little sound of annoyance.

'It is always the same,' she complained, her Teutonic accent still strong after seventeen years in England. 'Since that man Waldegrave has been their governor, my children are kept very close. I fear they are not being taught as they should be, yet the King will not listen to me. He has surrounded his grandsons with Jacobites but cannot be made to see it!'

'There was an inquiry into the matter, ma'am,' he reminded her gently, 'the allegations proved groundless.'

The Princess looked sceptical. 'What do I care for inquiries? I would that you were governor at Savile House, my lord. Then I would know my children were in safe hands.'

Lord Thurleigh's hard grey eyes gleamed for a moment before the lids concealed his triumphant look.