A Dangerous Disguise by Barbara Cartland

wouldn't have done to have you here, making a scene. As it was, she screamed the place down, banging on the door, shrieking for you to come and save her."
    "Dear God!" the Duke whispered, feeling the hairs on the back of his neck stand up in horror.
    The picture of Ola screaming in terror, begging him to save her, finding herself abandoned, was more than he could bear.
    "It was most distressing," said Danson with a shudder. "I had hoped to get the business over without disturbance, but I'm afraid she's going to cause a lot of trouble."
    "Are you out of your mind!" the Duke shouted. "You can't believe this nonsense."
    "My dear fellow, it was you who gave me the evidence against her of how often she asked to see the Queen from a distance."
    "So that she wouldn't be exposed – "
    "So that she could get a safe shot."
    Into the Duke's mind came the memory of Ola saying, "I'm an excellent shot. I can hit a bull's eye at fifty paces," and then hastily retreating, denying what she had just admitted.
    Like someone who had inadvertently revealed too much.
    Everything in him howled NO! It wasn't possible.
    And yet - ?
    He became aware that Danson was still talking.
    "And when she'd shot the Queen, she'd have shot you. She would have to if she wanted to get away. You're lucky to be alive, so don't start getting sentimental about her.
    "Just stay out of it from now on. It wouldn't look good if you were to try to defend a woman like that. In a short time she'll be tried, convicted and executed. And that will be the end of her."

 CHAPTER SIX
    Ola had no idea where she was, except that there were bars on the windows and a tiny barred window in the door. The walls were stone, the bed was narrow and hard.
    She knew nothing of Greta's fate, except that she had been brought to a place like this. Her companion had bravely maintained silence, but soon she would learn that her mistress had told them her name. This apparent treachery would break her heart.
    Nobody would tell her where Greta was. In fact, nobody would speak to her at all. Sometimes a face would appear at the bars in the door, but if she called out they ignored her.
    She was alone, with nobody to care what happened to her.
    When she thought of how the Duke had betrayed her she wanted to cry and cry until there were no tears left. He had won her love with his charm, his tenderness, his strength. And it had all been false. While he seemed to be adoring her, he had been observing her as a 'suspicious person'.
    She paced the floor until she was exhausted, then sat on the bed, pressed up into the corner, laid her head on her knees, and folded her arms protectively.
    She stayed like this for hours, sometimes dozing,
    sometimes waking to the sound of doors slamming and distant cries. It was like being in hell, deprived of all hope.
    In the morning she was brought a meal of bread and cold water. The wardress slammed it down, gave her a look of contempt, and departed, slamming the door.
    Sir Bernard Danson had told her she would be interrogated again, and at every sound outside her door she braced herself. But it was not until the afternoon that footsteps stopped, the key turned and the door swung open.
    Bracing herself, she turned defiantly to face the wardress.
    But it was not a wardress.
    It was the last man in the world she expected to see.
    "You?" she whispered. "You dare to come and face me?"
    "You should be glad that I did," said the Duke through gritted teeth. "I'm not supposed to be here. I've been warned off taking any further interest in you. Your guards have orders to keep me out. I managed to bribe them but I don't have much time."
    He came close to her, looking down into her ravaged face with terrible eyes.
    "Tell me it isn't true," he said hoarsely. "The things they're saying about you can't be true – tell me!"
    "What is the use of telling you?" she demanded. "They things they are saying about me are the things you said. You accused me. You brought me here."
    "You brought