‘I made a mistake,’ she thought, ‘and, although Papa would have laughed, these people would not think it funny.’
Because she felt embarrassed and at the same time some of the excitement that she had felt had slipped away from her, she decided to go to bed.
She knew that her aunt did not want her and when she looked for her uncle he was near the gaming tables talking to that nice Mrs. Marshall.
‘I will go to bed and read,’ Ina decided. ‘Tomorrow if I get the chance, I will tell the Marquis that I am sorry, but anyway I don’t suppose that he will remember what I said.’
She walked towards the door and she had almost reached it when a voice asked,
“Where are you going to, pretty lady?”
It was the Prince and Ina was sure that the look in his eyes was one that she had no wish to see.
“I a
