CHAPTER TENMichael and Bettina exchanged glances, each frozen with horror at the disaster that would now inevitably engulf them. Everything was lost.
Luckily Lord Stacey did not notice them. His attention was fixed on the door, through which Win strode, his hand clasped in Katherine’s.
“Win,” Michael called quickly. “What a surprise!”
“Do I understand,” Lord Stacey intervened, “that this is Lord Winton Shriver?”
“It is,” Michael said. “But perhaps we can delay any further – ”
“Lord Winton, I am delighted to meet you,” Lord Stacey announced, extending his hand. “I am Lord Stacey, here as the Queen’s Messenger.”
At the words ‘Queen’s Messenger’ Win stiffened like a deer in a forest, listening for danger and ready to vanish in a moment.
“Er – charmed to meet you,” he murmured, shaking
