"Please, don't ask me," Herbert said. "I can't say anything." His eyes pleaded with her. Somehow Alexandra couldn't come up with the strength to ask him again. Her heart troubled, she nodded to the prince and moved back to the seemingly endless round of dances and empty conversation.

* * * * *

She didn't see the stranger until he stepped out of the shadow and grabbed her. She felt the cold knife on her throat and knew she was going to die. Only she didn't. ...