Lord Locke had been certain that, although Delphine had been spoilt by the adulation she received, he could in such circumstances make her happy and so he had agreed to everything that the Duke suggested.
This included a duel with blank cartridges and a way for the Duke to go into exile while Lord Locke pretended to be at death’s door.
Every detail had been planned so that no one would ever suspect that what happened had been contrived, including Lionel Hampton’s faking a realistic scar on Lord Locke’s chest.
The Duke’s secretary was now able to inform that his Lordship was in far better health than might have been expected in the circumstances and that he and Lady Bramwell were planning to be married in two weeks’ time.
The Duke had sent them his warmest congratulations.
He knew when
