The Marquis opened the door and stood staring at what he saw and as he did so the King turned his head and loosened his hold on Valeda.
With a violet effort she struggled free of him and ran towards the Marquis.
While he did not move, nor put his arms around her, he could feel her whole body trembling against his.
Then with an inarticulate little sound she went through the open door and there was the sound of her footsteps running down the passage.
The King pulled the lapels of his coat into place and said with a laugh in his voice,
“Enchanting! Exactly what an English flower should be like!”
The Marquis walked slowly into the room.
“You came to see me, sir?”
The King looked up at him, his eyes twinkling.
“I hoped you were otherwise engaged, Carlos, and I suspected an Englishwoman
