The new horses were fresh as the ostler had told him.
The Duke drove them at the greatest speed that they were capable of for the last part of the journey.
He was very anxious to get Alysia to Eagle Hall and set in motion the wheels that would protect her from her stepfather.
He felt that it would be very difficult for Miles Maulcroft to find her.
Yet they had been unlucky before and the Duke was well aware that there would be a great number of grooms and other servants making enquiries in all directions.
Somebody was bound to come up with the story of a man and a woman travelling North from Meadowley.
The moon was just beginning to lose its brilliance and the stars were no longer so bright when the Duke turned in at the gates of Eagle Hall.
He reckoned that the household would not
