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‘Don’t worry about me. I feel restless, that’s all. I think I’ll get dressed. If Alice’s up, then we’ll go to the Park for a walk. That might sweep away the night’s cobwebs.’ She slipped out of bed and padded across the floor. From the threshold she looked back at her elder sister, who was watching her with concern. ‘Don’t look like that. I’ll be right soon enough.’

Lucie dressed quickly in her walking dress. She told Sybella she would come back to breakfast later with her and Lady Godley but felt impelled to go for a brisk walk among the trees and breathe the early morning air, as she used to every day at home. Alice was already up and seemed surprised to see her young mistress dressed so early: together they set off for Hyde Park in companionable silence. The early morning mist still hung high in the great oaks and the distant figures of riders, exercising their horses, could be glimpsed against the chiaroscuro of the trees. Lucie thought longingly of the unfettered rides she was used to in Wiltshire. She missed her pretty mare, Jenny, and the simplicity of country life as she had known it. Life here in Town had become so much more complicated with the tiresome expectations put by society upon a young lady deemed in need of a husband. She was troubled also by the two lords who had become inextricably part of her life, but in roles as yet unclear.

She determined to borrow Sybella’s stallion, Scipio, in the next few days and go riding in the Park. Not as skilled a horsewoman as her sister, she nevertheless had ridden Scipio many times in the Manor grounds and had seldom felt alarmed at his speed or power. She walked fast and breathed the fresh morning air. Gradually, her feelings of unease began to give way to her usual sense of exhilaration and hope. She felt so fortunate to be young and beautiful and, despite her lack of wealth, to have a lifetime’s possibilities and opportunities for happiness to come.

Lucie and Alice had just begun to retrace their steps towards Cumberland Gate and home for breakfast when the rhythmic pounding of galloping hooves arrested them. She turned quickly to see Lord Lynwood reining in his magnificent grey hunter. He leapt nimbly from the saddle and almost ran towards her, urgently grasping her hand. ‘Lucie, I was on my way to your house. I thought it was much too early to call, but thank the devil you’re here!’ His speech tumbled out breathlessly and there was a distraught look in his dark eyes.

Lucie was aware of Alice’s face, agog with curiosity, and led Lord Lynwood away.

‘Why, what’s happened?’ she asked with a lowered voice and a meaningful look towards her maid.

‘It’s Val. He’s been arrested by Bow Street constables and a night watchman.’ Lord Lynwood ran his hand distractedly through his hair.

‘Surely it’s some mistake! What for? Gambling debts?’

‘Much, much worse than that. Lucie, I don’t know how I can tell you.’ His face was contorted with anxiety. ‘It carries a sentence of death.’

‘No!’ She put out a hand and grabbed his coat sleeve to steady herself. ‘How can this be? Has he killed someone? What has he done? Duelling? Surely he hasn’t killed a man?’ Her face was anguished. Lord Lynwood shook his head, haggard with dismay. She tugged his sleeve hard. ‘How do you know?’

‘Val sent a scribbled note via one of his friends, from that damnable club he frequents. They were informed on by someone. And the Bow Street officers raided the place.’

‘Does his father know?’

‘The note begged me to keep it from the Duke.’

‘Is it so bad, Freddie?’ Lucie’s blue gaze looked beseechingly into his own troubled eyes. ‘Is it what you and the Duke have dreaded?’

‘Ever since this club near Soho Square opened. He didn’t say much and would not let me accompany him. It’s damnably dangerous, excuse my language, Lucie, but there are no polite words to express how frightened I feel for him. Two men were hanged last year for “unnatural practices”. That’s what they want to pin on Val and three other men they’ve arrested with him.’

The terrible news was imparted in a rush of words. They both were shocked, but Lord Lynwood watched Lucie’s face, his breath suspended. His mind was in turmoil: it was grossly improper to even hint to an innocent young woman what young men might indulge in with members of the female sex, but even to intimate that men might have some sort of illicit relationship with each other was unforgiveable and flagrantly debased. How could he confide in Lucie and maintain his honour, and hers?

‘Even such an accusation is utter destruction and ruin to any man, even one as loved as Val. In this country, his nature would be considered more despicable than if he was the cruellest murderer!’

The import of his words seeped into her consciousness, bringing with it a sickening fear. Her godmother had hinted at the scandalous rumours swirling around Lord Byron of something similarly depraved and dangerous. Lucie was a country girl and had not been artificially protected from the variousness of animal and human behaviour. The primary horror to her mind was the extreme danger Lord Ravenell was in.

‘Come on, Freddie! We are not the mob. We can’t judge Val like that. We know him. He is our brother. We would sacrifice anything for him. What can we do to help?’

‘I’m going to do something. But you are definitely not going to be involved. You’re not even going to speak about it.’

‘Don’t try to gull me, Freddie!’ She was outraged. ‘He’s just as much my friend as yours and we’re both going to do all we can to help him. You’ve told me now and can’t pretend I know nothing. You don’t need to protect my honour or my innocence, I’ve never claimed to have a delicate sensibility.’ She had grabbed his arm and made him face her.

He looked pale and pained. ‘Well, tell me then, what are we to do? Val hasn’t been charged yet. The magistrate will sit this afternoon, so we have until then to try and get him released.’

‘Have you spoken to your guardian? He seems to know everything and know best what to do.’

‘He always knows what to do. But he’s still in Wiltshire until tomorrow. By then, we’ll be too late. Val will be charged and all the gossips and long tongues will be lighting up the Town. His life will be ruined, and possibly forfeit. It’s too terrible to contemplate.’

‘We have to go and see if we can talk to him.’

‘There’s no way you’re coming to Bow Street with me. It’s hellish bad ton. I couldn’t forgive myself.’

‘Neither of us would forgive ourselves, or each other, if we leave him to the mercy of the Bow Street men. What are you planning to do?’

‘I’ve been through Ant’s hoard of guineas he keeps for gaming and other indulgences. I’ve also sold my fob and my watch.’

‘You’re going to try and bribe the officers?’ Lucie was wide-eyed.

‘Of course, but don’t be so green! I won’t just swank in there flashing the spankers. It’s done with guile. Like suggesting some supplementary alms for their new Horse Patrol. But I’m not certain it will work.’