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The very large constable appeared moved by this young couple’s plight and involuntarily clapped a sympathetic paw on Lord Ravenell’s shoulder. His demeanour showed he thought the whole episode was a drunken escapade that had been misinterpreted by a mean-minded informant. It was obvious to him and his world-weary colleagues that these rascally young noblemen had too much energy and should be better employed than drinking and gaming and pursuing their wastrel lives.

Intent on the second strand in his defence of his friend, Lord Lynwood drew the chief constable away from the affecting scene. ‘I was wondering if a contribution towards your new Horse Patrol might help in your admirable fight against real crime?’ he said quietly and discreetly extracted the bag of guineas from his pocket. The constable had already shown concern about this raid, promoted by an informer of dubious character himself. All at the station had liked the young lord with his impeccable manners, and thought him more a scapegrace than a criminal.

The chief constable made his decision. With exaggerated solemnity, he addressed his prisoner in sonorous tones. ‘Lord Ravenell, I am happy to let you leave this morning, but you will be on probation. I will not hesitate to bring you back in before the magistrate for any other irregular behaviour, in your cups or otherwise.’

Lucie gasped and smiled radiantly on the two constables. ‘We thank you, sirs.’ The emotion she had been suppressing was suddenly released as tears sprung to her eyes. She clapped her hands together and spontaneously kissed Lord Ravenell full on the lips.

The young lord extricated himself from her embrace and turned to the constables, the tension in his face visibly draining away as he spoke. ‘I thank you both for your understanding and clemency in this case. But can I please plead for similar treatment for my friends, below in the cells with me? I can’t in all conscience leave without knowing they will also be freed.’

‘Be gone with you! We’ll release them with the same terms as you, Lord Ravenell.’ The constable was back to his own brusque self, but paused with an afterthought. ‘Miss Carey, before you go, can I commend you for your loyalty to your betrothed and may I wish you every happiness’ He inclined his head in a slight bow.

‘I thank you, from the depths of my heart.’ She too bowed her head, then taking Lord Ravenell’s arm walked unsteadily from the building.

They collected a startled Alice from the bench and Lord Lynwood linked his other arm with his friend’s. Lucie felt her knees buckle. She was overwhelmed with the enormity of what they had been through and of what they had achieved, and the fear of what would have happened if they had failed. Lord Lynwood was by her side in an instant and the two men held her upright as they waited to hail a passing hackney.

Aware of Alice’s presence, the men just talked pleasantries and Lucie sat demurely next to her maid. ‘Perhaps we’ll come in with you, Lucie, when we get to Green Street?’

‘Of course. Sybella will be there and she’d like to see you too. Would you like some breakfast? It’s rather late, but none of us have eaten.’

Samson answered the door to the bedraggled party. He cast a disapproving look at Lord Ravenell, who appeared particularly unkempt, as if he’d slept in his clothes, but he showed them all into the breakfast room where Sybella was pouring herself her last cup of coffee.

‘Lucie!’ She leapt up. And then, seeing their young lordships walk in behind her sister, she looked at each face, reading a range of emotions that gave her cause for trepidation.

Lord Ravenell came forward and bowed over her hand. ‘Forgive this intrusion. May I make use again of your hospitality in washing and perhaps changing my cravat? I’ve been unable to get home this morning.’

‘Of course. You know the way. And Lucie, give Lord Ravenell some of Lord Godley’s neckcloths. They’ll still be in his dressing room.’ When her sister returned to the room, Sybella offered toast and coffee and then said to her and Lord Lynwood, ‘Well, you’ve obviously been up to something. Lord Ravenell looks burnt to the socket. Tell me.’

In a rush, they both began their tale. Sybella was suitably shocked, astonished, apprehensive, fearful and then admiring of their enterprise, and the success of their rescue. She had had some warning in her conversations with Lord Ravenell’s father that this arrest was what the old Duke feared most. It was indeed the most wicked slur that could be flung at any man and destroyed lives. She was impressed by Lucie’s imaginative boldness in claiming a betrothal to deflect the terrible accusations. Lord Lynwood was quick to add the coda to their stirring tale of rescue. ‘Of course, Lucie does not need to go through with the marriage.’

At this point, Lord Ravenell came into the room looking neater and cleaner, but haggard and pale and deadly serious. He fell on his knees beside Sybella’s chair. ‘I owe you, Mrs Lovatt, my profoundest apologies. The last thing in the world that I could have wanted was for you or Lucie to be exposed to such an indecent, depraved world as mine.’ A great sobbing sigh shook his body. ‘I am more ashamed than I can say that my libertine behaviour has involved you and your family in this way.’ His head was bowed. Sybella reached out and took his face in her hands and raised it to look into his eyes. Their brilliant blue was clouded with tears.

‘Oh, my dear, dear Valentine. It is a shock you’ve been so reckless and courted such terrible danger, indeed been in mortal danger, but you are the same loving, charming, kind young man you’ve always been. And we are your friends and always will be.’ His head sank onto her knee and Lucie ran to his side and embraced both her sister and the fallen angel in her lap.

‘Val, we’ll always love you. How can you ever think it otherwise?’ she cried as she helped him up and walked with him to the table. ‘Have some breakfast. You must be so very hungry.’ She buttered him a piece of toast and Lord Lynwood poured him some coffee.

Sybella thought it time to intervene. ‘I’m sorry to get back to practicalities, but Valentine and Lucie, my dears, I think you need to make this betrothal public. Valentine’s still on probation and you need to surround yourself with as much protection from the law as you can. And be careful too, to stay away from any disreputable company.’

Sybella noticed the look that passed between the two young lords. She knew they were surprised by how lacking in female delicacy she had been. ‘Oh, in heaven’s name! I am no longer an innocent miss. I have been married to a soldier and do understand a little of such things, you know.’ They all laughed for the first time that day. She then continued, ‘After a while, when Valentine is truly safe from prosecution, Lucie can discreetly end the betrothal without any stigma attached to either.’

‘But what if I’d like to marry Val? It would be nice to be a duchess one day too,’ Lucie said archly.

‘And my father would die happy if I married you.’ Lord Ravenell took Lucie’s hand and his uncharacteristic pallor began to recede.. ‘She would be his ideal daughter and, as my saviour, a diamond beyond compare.’

Lord Lynwood had been watching this with an inscrutable expression in his eyes. ‘Don’t forget, Val, she’s my fair saviour. She saved me first, from a lonely roadside death.’

Sybella also wanted to make her point clear. ‘Much as I admire your father, Valentine, and have much affection for you and Freddie, I’m most concerned with Lucie’s happiness in the long term. But I think we have to act as if this betrothal is real. So, Lord Ravenell, you have my permission, if Lucie agrees.’

He fell to one knee and took Lucie’s hand. ‘Will you marry me, my dear?’

Lucie laughed. ‘Of course I will. For now, at least.’

‘You’ve already kissed me, so you don’t have to do it again.’ His exhausted face smiled up at hers.

Lucie threw her arms around him. ‘Don’t worry, Val. I promise I won’t kiss you so again.’

Sybella glanced from their golden heads to their friend, watching. She saw a dark unease flicker across Lord Lynwood’s brooding face. She knew he cared for them both but perhaps was afraid that in saving one he would lose the other?

‘I’m going to have to tell my father the truth, I suppose.’ Lord Ravenell got to his feet.