“Of course,” continued his Grace smoothly, “you also wish you had disposed of me. I sympathise. But, however much you may inwardly despise and loathe me, you cannot show it⁠—unless you choose to make yourself and me the talk of town⁠—not forgetting Mistress Diana. Also I abhor bad tragedy. So I trust you will remain here tonight as my guest⁠—er, Andrew, pray do not omit to order bedchambers to be prepared⁠—Afterwards you need never come near me again⁠—in fact, I hope that you will not.”

My lord could not entirely repress a smile.

“I thank your Grace for your hospitality, which I fear,” he glanced down at Diana’s tired face, “I shall be compelled to accept. As to the rest⁠—I agree. Like you, I dislike bad tragedy.”

Diana gave a tiny laugh.

“You are all so stiff!” she said “ I shall go to bed!”