CHAPTER THREEThe Marquis walked into The George and Dragon at Baldock and found that his valet was hovering in the hall with an anxious expression on his face.
“Here you are, my Lord,” he exclaimed in relief. “We have been extremely worried as to what had happened to you, but we guessed that the storm must have forced your Lordship to seek shelter elsewhere.”
“I am quite all right,” the Marquis told him briefly.
Then, before he could ask the question, his valet continued, lowering his voice,
“There be a lady here, my Lord, who says she has an appointment with you. She would not give me her name.”
“I was expecting her,” the Marquis said. “Where is she?”
“In the private parlour I engaged for you, my Lord. She arrived very early. In fact she was here before I – ”
The Marquis did not wa
