At last she saw that standing just in front of the Prince Regent, who was turning from the contemplation of the picture to greet him, was the Frenchman.
It was impossible not to recognise his long nose, his foxy face, dark hair and eyes.
He was dressed in the very height of fashion, except being a Frenchman he looked somewhat out of place amongst the less flamboyant Englishmen.
He was holding in his hand a small parcel, which she knew was the gift he intended to present to the Prince Regent.
Instantly, as the Earl had told her to do, she dropped the lace handkerchief she held in her hand.
Then, afraid that it was obscured by the crowd, she moved nearer to the Prince Regent.
She thought that if the Earl and Lord Charles were caught off their guard, she must somehow warn them in a different way from the one that they had arranged.
Then, as the Prince gave a welcoming smile to the newcomer, the Frenchman held forward the gift that he had in his left hand and began to explain in French that he had brought it on behalf of his uncle, the Marquis de St. Cloud.
In the same instant Salrina saw his right hand slip inside his evening coat.
Because she knew what he was about to do, she gave a little scream.
Even as she did so, she saw the Earl pushing his way past some beautiful ladies standing beside the Prince Regent.
But he was too late.
The Frenchman, hearing Salrina’s cry, looked round and with a swiftness that took her entirely by surprise, he dropped the present he held in his left hand.
Putting his arm roughly round her neck, he dragged her in the passing of a second close against him with his back against the wall.
Then he drew with his right hand a long thin stiletto with its sharp point from his coat and held it against her breast.
For a moment there was a complete silence of utter astonishment.
Then he said in French,
“One move and this woman dies!”
Because he was taller than she was, Salrina’s head was tipped back and she was vividly aware that she could feel the point of his stiletto through the thin gauze of her gown against her breast.
Then, as nobody moved, the Frenchman inched his way along the wall he was standing against into the open doorway of the Miniatures Room.
Vaguely, because it was difficult to breathe, Salrina saw as if in a haze the Prince Regent’s shocked expression and the ladies around him raising their hands to their lips or to their breasts in horror.
Frantically in terror she wanted to look for the Earl, but, after one quick glance, the Frenchman’s movements seemed to make everything swim before her eyes.
She was only aware of the sharp point of the stiletto.
She was certain that before he set her free she would die.
When slowly he had edged his way until they were out of the drawing room, Salrina, as if somebody was telling her what to do, made an unexpected movement.
As the Frenchman took what was almost the last step backwards through the open doorway, she twisted her right leg round his leg and he stumbled.
It was only a small movement, but as he did so the Earl sprang.
He flung himself almost as if he flew through the air at the Frenchman, knocked his right hand holding the stiletto up in the air and at the same time punched him with all his strength in the face.
Salrina, now free, collapsed onto the carpet and, as she did so, the Earl punched the Frenchman again on the point of his chin and he slithered slowly down against the wall and fell at his feet.
Then, as pandemonium broke out, Lord Charles picked Salrina up while two aides-de-camp carried the unconscious Frenchman into the Miniatures Room and out of sight.
As Lord Charles held her, Salrina fought against the faintness that seemed to overwhelm her and the Earl pulled the lapels of his coat back into place.
He did not answer the questions that were being fired at him from every direction until the Prince Regent, who was always quick to size up a situation, enquired of the Earl,
“You knew this might happen to me?”
“I was warned, Sire, that it might occur.”
“And yet you did not inform me?”
“I thought it might upset Your Royal Highness and we were prepared and ready to defend you, although I did not expect him to take a hostage.”
“I realised that it was Miss Milton’s action which gave you your opportunity to knock him out,” the Prince Regent said with relish. “I must thank her.”
Although she was feeling shocked, Salrina managed to curtsey and accepted shyly the Prince Regent’s most sincere expressions of gratitude.
“And now, if you will excuse us, Sire,” the Earls aid, “I think that I should take the heroine of the hour home and hope that there will be no more unpleasant incidents to spoil your party.”
“I shall not forget this, Alaric,” the Prince Regent said, putting his hand affectionately on the Earl’s shoulder. “We will talk about it tomorrow.”
He thanked Salrina again and it was with a sense of relief that, accompanied by the Earl on one side of her and Lord Charles on the other, they went downstairs to the hall.
They were aware as they left the room behind them that the voices of the guests rose higher and higher.
Only as the Earl placed her in his carriage, which came to the front door surprisingly quickly, did Lord Charles say,
“If you don’t mind, Alaric, I think I will go back for a while. I want to make quite certain that the Frenchman is safely locked up for the night and I am also rather curious to hear what everybody is saying about you and Miss Milton.”
“I can guess that very accurately without listening to it!” the Earl replied sarcastically.
He then climbed into the carriage beside Salrina and Lord Charles went back into the hall.
Salrina was silent not because she had nothing to say, but because she still felt as if she had been caught in a maelstrom and was not certain if her feet were still on the ground.
The Earl understood. He took her hand in his and said,
“It’s all over and you were splendid! And it was my fault that because the Prince Regent moved you might have been killed.”
“I was afraid you – would not see me – drop my handkerchief,” Salrina faltered.
“I suppose I should have anticipated that might happen,” the Earl said angrily.
“You must not blame yourself,” Salrina replied, “and your quickness was magnificent, when I had made him stumble, in knocking up his arm before he could – kill me.”
There was an unmistakable tremor in her voice and the Earl said,
“Forget it. You have been in danger and you have survived. The only thing that matters now is to put it behind you and remember that ‘lightning never strikes in the same place twice!’”
Salrina gave a croaking little laugh before she said anxiously,
“Suppose Napoleon tries again with another – assailant.”
“I doubt it,” the Earl replied. “The French don’t like failures and unsuccessful tactics are never repeated.”
It was only a short distance from Carlton House to Berkeley Square and, when they arrived, the Earl asked as they stepped into the hall,
“Would you like a glass of champagne?”
Salrina shook her head.
“I would – like to go to bed – if you don’t mind.”
“I think that is very sensible.”
She went slowly up the stairs, finding it a comfort to hold on to the banisters to help herself.
The maid who looked after her was already in her bedroom and Salrina undressed almost without speaking and then climbed into bed.
When she was alone, she did not blow out the candle but lay back against the pillows, thinking over what had occurred and finding it almost impossible to believe that it had really happened.
How was it possible in Carlton House of all places that she, from the depths of the country and of no so
cial consequence whatsoever, had been able to save the Prince Regent and very nearly lose her own life in the effort?
She had seen when she undressed that there was a little red mark on her breast where the point of the stiletto had rested.
She knew that it was only the Earl’s incredibly swift action that had prevented the Frenchman from driving the dagger into her body and then making his escape in the commotion that would have followed.
‘Tomorrow I must tell the Earl how grateful I am to him,’ she thought.
Then, as if there was a dagger in her heart, she realised that it was all over and that tomorrow she must go home.
It had been a frightening and embarrassing experience and yet at the same time wildly exciting and she would never forget it.
She knew if she never saw the Earl or Lord Charles again, she would always feel that they had stepped into her life and had become in a strange way part of herself.
Then she gave a deep sigh and looked round the room.
It would not only be the dramatic events of tonight that she would remember but the elegance and luxury of Fleet Hall, the beauty of the room she was now sleeping in and the incredible treasures of Carlton House.
‘I shall think about them and dream about them,’ she told herself and felt that it had all been like a fantasy.
Then, as she told herself that she should try to sleep, a door at the other end of her room near the window opened.
She had realised it was there, but had thought it led into a cupboard or perhaps into an adjoining bedroom.
Now, to her astonishment, the door opened to admit the Earl.
He came across the room towards her and she saw that he had undressed and the white frill of his nightshirt was high against his neck above the long dark red robe, which made him seem as if he had stepped out of some heraldic painting.
As he reached the bed and stood looking down at her, she asked shyly,
“Have you come to – say goodnight to me? I-I forgot to – lock the door as I promised I would – but I did not – know that there was another one.”
The Earl smiled.
Then he sat down on the side of the bed facing her.
“I know you are tired, Salrina,” he said, “but I want to talk to you because I reckon that you are already planning to leave tomorrow.”
“Of course,” Salrina agreed. “I have to go back to Papa, as you know, but – I was just thinking how – exciting it has all been – and I will never forget staying at Fleet Hall and – here in this beautiful room.”
“And do you think you will also remember me?” the Earl asked.
Salrina smiled and he saw her dimples before she replied a little shyly,
“I-I think it would be – impossible to – forget you.”
“Just as I know it would be impossible for me to forget you,” the Earl said.
He spoke in a voice that she had not heard before and, as she looked at him questioningly, he said,
“I think, Salrina, you are aware that because we have been through such a traumatic experience together and because we have so many things we share in common, it would be impossible to lose each other.”
“I-I don’t – understand what you are – saying to me,” Salrina murmured.
“Shall I say it in a different way?” the Earl asked.
He paused as he spoke and before Salrina realised what was happening his arms went round her and his lips took possession of hers.
For a moment it was impossible to breathe, impossible to think.
Then, as the Earl was kissing her, she was suddenly aware that it was something she had wanted and longed for even though she had not been able to express it even to herself.
As his lips became more possessive and more demanding against the softness and innocence or hers, she knew that he was part of her fantasy and of her dreams and part too of the beauty she found everywhere.
But it was more than that.
She could feel the Earl’s vibrations, which she had been aware of from the very first, linking her to him and his kisses made her whole body thrill in a way that she had never imagined possible.
It was as if little shafts of sunshine were running through her, making her quiver and making her, although she did not understand it, respond to him.
She felt as if he was demanding from her something only she could give him and she wanted, as she had never wanted anything in her whole life, to make him happy.
He raised his head for a moment and when, as she looked up at him, her eyes in the candlelight seemed to fill her whole face with the radiance of the stars, he kissed her again.
Now she could feel his heart beating against hers and she felt too that there was a strange fire on his lips which she did not understand, but which ignited little flames within her body.
They seemed to burn up from her breast into her throat and to touch the fire on his mouth.
He raised his head again and now incoherently, because she felt as if he carried her up into the sky, Salrina stammered,
“I love – you! I-I did not – know until this moment – but I – love you!”
“As I love you!” the Earl said in a very deep voice. “I did not imagine that any woman could be so sweet, so unspoilt, so utterly and completely natural.”
He would have kissed her again, but because Salrina was frightened of her own feelings she put up her hands as if to protect herself.
He understood and said with a smile,
“My darling, I have so much to teach you about love.”
“I-I did not know it was – like this!”
“Like what?” he asked.
“Like – shafts of lightning running through me – or perhaps sunshine – except that it burns!”
“That is the beginning,” the Earl said. “I will make you burn, my beautiful one, until we are both consumed by our love and you will know that nothing else in the world is of any consequence.”
“It is – rather – frightening!” Salrina whispered.
“Are you still frightened of me, as you were when you first came to Fleet Hall?”
“No – not like that,” she answered. “I think I am more – frightened of myself and – what you make me – feel.”
The Earl laughed and it was a very tender sound.
“I adore you!” he sighed. “No other woman could express herself in the same way as you do and I promise you that we shall be very very happy together.”
“T-Together?” Salrina asked.
“That is something we will talk about tomorrow morning. It’s too late now and I know how tired you must be. What you have been through has, of course, been very exhausting.”
He looked down at her before he said in a very different tone,
“I want you – God knows I want you! But I think for the first time in my life, I am thinking of someone else rather than myself.”
Salrina looked puzzled.
“I-I don’t understand what you are – saying.”
“I know it’s true!” the Earl said as if he was suddenly aware of the fact. “That is another thing that is so unusual and so completely and absolutely captivating about you.”
He bent forward and kissed her cheek before he added,
“Go to sleep and tomorrow we will think of a way of explaining to your father why you cannot return home. Then we will decide where you are going to live, so that I can teach you about love.”
Salrina wanted to say again that she did not understand, but his lips were on hers and he kissed her until she felt as if the room disappeared and they were flying in the darkness of the sky up towards a light that drew them like a magnet and which she thought must be a Heaven where they could be together.
Then, as once again she was trembling from the little shafts of lightning that seemed to burn with fire, the Earl sat up.
“You go to my head, Salrina!” he said in a strange voice, “or rather to my heart! Goodnight, my lovely one. Leave everything to me and after tomorrow there w
ill be no more problems and no more lonely nights for either of us.”
He kissed her hand, and before she could say anything, before she could even tell him again that she loved him, he walked across the room, turning at the door to smile at her.
Then he was gone.
For a moment Salrina could hardly believe what had happened.
As her whole body vibrated and pulsated with the wonder of his kisses, she told herself that she was the happiest and luckiest girl in the whole world.
He loved her! He had actually said that he loved her! The Earl of Fleetwood, the man whom she had heard about ever since her childhood, but had never thought she would even see!
“I love him! I love him!” she cried aloud.
As she blew out the candle and lay down against the pillows she felt in a strange way as if her mother was beside her.
It was then that for the first time she went back in her mind over what had happened and found it again impossible to comprehend.
‘We will be together and there will be no more lonely nights for either of us,’ he had said.
He had spoken as if it was something that would come about immediately before they were married.
It was then, as if the Frenchman’s stiletto slid into her breast, that she felt it was as cold as ice, that it quenched the little flames of fire within her and left her trembling.
Slowly, as if with an incredible effort like climbing to the top of a mountain, she went back over everything that the Earl had said to her.
Now she listened to it without being swept away by the wonder of his lips and the magnetism of his vibrations.
It was an agony worse than any physical pain to know that while he had told her he loved her and wanted her, she had to face the truth that he did not intend that she should be his wife!
When she realised what he did mean, Salrina did not cry. She knew that she was past tears.
She only felt as if, having touched the gates of Heaven, she had been thrown into the darkness of Hell. And the agony of it was indescribable.
‘Mama! Mama!’ she found herself whispering. ‘How could this happen to me? What shall I do?’
She knew that her mother would understand her love.
It was the love she had given to her father from the first moment she had seen him and her father had loved her in the same way.
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