“I will tell you exactly why,” he said. “It is because I am extremely good company. I amuse people and make them laugh and, while the men think I am a good sportsman, the women – ”

He paused and added,

“Never mind about the women!”

“But you are not rich and important like all the people you spend so much time with,” Honora remarked.

“I know that and that is why it is so gratifying,” her father answered. “You will find, my darling, when you are grown up, that the rich are often bored with themselves and most of them need a court jester or somebody who is sympathetic to their troubles. You may not believe it, but they have them!”

Then he was laughing and Honora cried,

“Dukes, Princes, or Marquises, I don’t believe that anybody, Papa, could be as attractive or be as much fun as you are!”

“That is exactly what I am and what I want them to think,” her father smiled.

He had gone off to Blenheim Palace and returned to find a dozen more invitations to other stately homes where he could enjoy himself. It made Honora long for the day when she would be old enough to accompany him.

At the same time she thought now that, while her father might have been impressed by the Duke, he would certainly not want her to marry a man she was not in love with and who was obviously not in love with her.

‘Why does he want to marry me?’ she asked herself.

She had no answer, but she was quite sure that there must be a reason and it was not a straightforward or particularly pleasant one.

Because she knew it was expected of her she went down to the drawing room.

As Dalton opened both the double doors for her, she had a feeling that she was stepping into a play of which she did not know the plot or even whether it would be a romance or a tragedy.

As she entered the room, her aunt was standing at the far end of it in front of the fireplace looking up at the Duke who was standing beside her.

They not only appeared extremely attractive, but Honora thought it was obvious that they were very close and personal friends.

She was not certain how she knew this, it was just as if it vibrated on the atmosphere towards her and she did not question the truth of it.

She was halfway down the room before first the Duke was aware of her and turned his head in her direction.

Then her aunt did the same.

“Oh, there you are, Honora!” she exclaimed.

As she spoke, her eyes flickered over her niece’s appearance and there was a hard look in them.

Then, as Honora drew nearer still, the Countess managed to say in a voice that sounded almost as if she forced the words from between her lips,

“Let me introduce to you, dear child, the Duke of Tynemouth! Ulric, this is Honora!”