He was the type of man, he was sure, who would not take no for an answer even if she was engaged to somebody else.
“What happened tonight?” he asked.
“We went to bed early because most of us were going racing tomorrow morning. I was the last to go upstairs and had not yet undressed, because I was discussing with my valet what I should wear tomorrow.
“It was then, as we were talking, I heard a sudden explosion. For a moment I thought I must be mistaken, then as I thought it had come from a room on the first floor, not far from my own, it was followed by another.
“I pulled open the door, ran down the passage and saw that the door of Lady Delyth’s bedroom was open – ”
Lord Tring’s voice died away as if he found it hard to go on.
“Tell me what you saw,” the Duke prompted.
“Richard had o
