“Can you trust your valet?” she asked.
Lord Brecon considered.
“He has not been with me very long. It would be better to instruct him to fetch Bateson, who was here before I was born.”
If when the valet came to the door he was surprised to find his lordship and her ladyship together at such an hour, he gave no sign of it.
“Tell Bateson I require his presence here,” Lord Brecon said, “and then you can go to bed. I shall not require you further tonight.”
“Thank you, m’lord.”
The valet withdrew quietly and a few minutes later Bateson appeared. Caroline thought that he must have dressed hurriedly, but there was no sign of it as, having knocked quietly at the door, he entered and waited in attentive silence for his lordship’s commands.
“Come in, Bateson, and shut the door,” Lord Brecon s
