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Back A Man of Honour
Chapters (73)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. PART ONE
  4. ONE
  5. TWO
  6. THREE
  7. FOUR
  8. FIVE
  9. SIX
  10. SEVEN
  11. EIGHT
  12. NINE
  13. TEN
  14. ELEVEN
  15. PART TWO
  16. TWELVE
  17. THIRTEEN
  18. FOURTEEN
  19. FIFTEEN
  20. SIXTEEN
  21. SEVENTEEN
  22. EIGHTEEN
  23. NINETEEN
  24. TWENTY
  25. TWENTY-ONE
  26. TWENTY-TWO
  27. TWENTY-THREE
  28. TWENTY-FOUR
  29. TWENTY-FIVE
  30. TWENTY-SIX
  31. TWENTY-SEVEN
  32. TWENTY-EIGHT
  33. TWENTY-NINE
  34. THIRTY
  35. THIRTY-ONE
  36. THIRTY-TWO
  37. PART THREE
  38. THIRTY-THREE
  39. THIRTY-FOUR
  40. THIRTY-FIVE
  41. THIRTY-SIX
  42. THIRTY-SEVEN
  43. THIRTY-EIGHT
  44. THIRTY-NINE
  45. FORTY
  46. FORTY-ONE
  47. FORTY-TWO
  48. FORTY-THREE
  49. FORTY-FOUR
  50. PART FOUR
  51. FORTY-FIVE
  52. FORTY-SIX
  53. FORTY-SEVEN
  54. FORTY-EIGHT
  55. FORTY-NINE
  56. FIFTY
  57. FIFTY-ONE
  58. FIFTY-TWO
  59. FIFTY-THREE
  60. PART FIVE
  61. FIFTY-FOUR
  62. FIFTY-FIVE
  63. FIFTY-SIX
  64. FIFTY-SEVEN
  65. FIFTY-EIGHT
  66. FIFTY-NINE
  67. SIXTY
  68. SIXTY-ONE
  69. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
  70. Keep Reading …
  71. About the Author
  72. Also by Barbara Taylor Bradford
  73. About the Publisher

‘Very much so. I’m giving her my mother’s diamond engagement ring, getting down on bended knee and all that.’ Harry glanced at Robert. ‘So, what do you think?’

‘Congratulations, Harry. I’m happy for you. One rarely meets the right woman … it takes time, I suppose.’

‘I met Marguerite a few months ago, and I knew at once she’s the one. She did too. And so I decided to take the plunge. Now. Why wait? Nothing’s going to change. You see, I’ve fallen in love.’ Harry took a swallow of coffee.

Robert stared back at Harry, whom he had known since their Eton days, and said nothing, thinking immediately of Vanessa, and wishing he was free to put a ring on her finger.

After a moment or two, Harry said, ‘You’ve gone so very quiet. What’s the matter, Robert? You look sorrowful.’

‘I’m going to tell you something, but I must ask for your full confidentiality and discretion. What I’m going to say must remain a secret between us.’

‘But it will be. Surely you know that after twenty-five years,’ Harry shot back quickly. ‘It will be our secret, I swear.’

‘I’m in the same boat as you. I met a woman a few weeks ago and I’m madly in love with her. I want to marry her, but I can’t. And you certainly know why.’ Robert shook his head. ‘I’ve been very neglectful. I should have divorced Lucinda years ago. Now I’m in a tough spot. I’ve got to rid myself of her.’

‘Never a truer word spoken,’ Harry responded. ‘Long ago, when you were first engaged, I thought Lucinda was glamorous and very sexual. She seemed to have that “come to bed” look in her eyes. But she hasn’t aged well.’ Harry paused, shook his head, then said, ‘Do you think she’ll agree to a divorce now? She must like being a Countess and living separate lives. Has something changed?’

‘Yes, it has. I’ve found out a lot about Lucinda, thanks to Addy, who is handling things for me. But I can’t be seen in public with Vanessa, and that’s why this conversation must be confidential.’

‘I fully understand, Robert. You don’t want Lucinda having any grounds to contest the divorce.’

Robert nodded, and finished his cup of coffee. ‘Lucinda has a man. We’ve got the goods on her, so to speak.’ Robert sighed. ‘I can’t wait to get my freedom.’

‘Thank God, you are going to get it at last. In the meantime, you have your lady, your future wife, and you can certainly enjoy a cosy little affair with her until you can make it legal.’ Harry gave him a knowing smile. ‘That’s always comforting.’