“That’s good,” Ewan replied calmly, returning to the role of polite gentleman. “Now I believe that you have learned some things this evening, and I am glad of it.” He allowed the frightened young woman to take a few steps away before he interrupted her to offer some parting wisdom.<br/><br/>“Before you go let me pass some things along,” he said with a pleasant smile. “You are a clever, brave and attractive young woman. You have more of your mother in you than you may realize. If you use these things to your advantage you would certainly become an excellent schemer. I suspect that you would be able to achieve anything you wish in life through intrigue – with the proper mentoring.”<br/><br/>He allowed that to sink in before continuing.<br/><br/>“If you find your way to the capitol, either as a lady-in-waiting or for marriage, reach out to me. I believe I could point you in the right direction. We could help one another, I think, as co-conspirators. Why you ask? Simply put - you would be more valuable to me as an ally than an enemy.”<br/><br/>The offer may have seemed bizarre but Prince Ewan was nonetheless speaking genuinely.<br/><br/>“To prove that we can be of assistance to one another, I will not tell your mother a single word of our conversation. I will give her no reason to harm even a hair on your head, since that is a favor that you might someday repay when I most need it. Good night, Lady Katherine. Sleep well,” he added cynically – knowing that she might not ever truly sleep soundly again. The dark vail of court intrigues had settled upon her young life like a shroud, Ewan suspected; causing it to never to be the same. He waited several minutes after she left before heading downstairs to rejoin the party himself, noting that she fled the hall rather abruptly.<br/><br/>It took only moments before he bumped into Victoria and her fierce look of concern.<br/><br/>“You didn’t hear it from me, but Katherine has a beau,” he explained to his love. “Her boutonniere is a fine rose; I suspect he must be a gardener. She left the party without permission, I'd guess she may be going to see him now. You should act fast,” he added before sipping from the cup of wine he had recently acquired. “And be back in time. Don’t be late...” he added with a knowing smile before disappearing into the crowd, referring to their planned tryst later that evening.