Mrs. Merryweather, with her large bulging figure and fat red face, looked a typical farmer’s wife, while the slender girl following her with her lovely wild rose complexion and spun-gold hair seemed to belong to another world.

But there was no mistaking the poverty of her plain gown or the severity of the untrimmed bonnet with its cheap ribbons, which she now hastily pulled over her curls.

Perhaps she was going to London to seek a position as a housemaid, Sir Harry mused to himself. Or maybe she would find employment as a Governess.

Whatever it might be, it was a damned shame that anyone so pretty should have to earn her own living.

The curricle, which had obviously been built for speed, was not a particularly suitable vehicle for ladies.

Mrs. Merryweather then refused to climb up onto the box beside his Lordship.

“I’ll sit behind,” she said, “and Gretna will sit beside me. You gentlemen are best in front where you were when you overturned us.”

“Now, now, Mrs. Merryweather!” Sir Harry admonished. “You must not say that. It was your coachman who overturned you and not us.”

“Well, that’s as maybe,” Mrs. Merryweather retorted. “Anyway, sir, that’s the way we’ll sit.”

Sir Harry was obliged to acquiesce. He had obviously had ideas of putting her on the box beside the Marquis and sitting with her niece at the back.

But Mrs. Merryweather was too firm for him and he was forced to do as she wished only turning round endeavouring to see the pretty heart-shaped face that was almost obscured from him by the ugly bonnet.

Gretna tried to say something to Mrs. Merryweather, but she put her fingers to her lips and she lapsed into silence content to watch the countryside as they hurried back along the road that they had just come down.

After perhaps a mile the curricle turned through some fine ornamental gates into a drive bordered with oak trees.

Sitting where she was, Gretna did not see Stade Hall until they had passed through a second pair of gates, which led into a courtyard and swung round in front of the wide stone steps that led to the front door.

Then she gave a little gasp of surprise at the magnificence of it. There was no doubt about it at all, it was a very beautiful house set like a jewel in green parkland with great trees shading a small herd of speckled deer.

There was a lake, shimmering golden in the evening sun, and smooth lawns that reached down to the edge of the lake.

She had, however, little time to look around her before a footman with powdered hair and claret and gold livery, was assisting her to alight and she and Mrs. Merryweather were led by Sir Harry into a huge porticoed hall.