Because she felt shy Honora found it very hard to look at him, but because she knew it was bad manners not to do so, she raised her grey eyes to his face as she made a respectful curtsey.

The Duke bowed and, as he looked at her, she had the uncomfortable feeling that he was not only taking in her appearance, but it was almost as if he expected to find something he disliked.

It was not what she had expected to feel about him, and almost as if it was a warning signal she told herself that, just as she had no wish to marry him, the Duke had no wish to marry her.

Then why? Why? Why?

The question seemed almost as if it was floating in the air around her, whispered in the crackle of the fire and even carried on the fragrance of the flowers.

“I am delighted to meet you, Miss Lang!” the Duke said in a deep voice.

As he spoke, Honora knew that he was not delighted. In which case, why, why, had he asked to marry her?

CHAPTER THREE

They had a stilted conversation for a few minutes, the Duke asking in a rather bored voice what Honora’s journey had been like from France and the Countess answering before she could say it had been rough in the Channel.

Then in a somewhat exaggerated and theatrical voice and an expression in her dark eyes that Honora did not like to interpret, her aunt said,

“I am going to leave you together for a few minutes, but I will not be long.”

She looked at the Duke in a meaningful manner and then moved towards the door, very conscious as she did so of her graceful carriage and the rustle of her full skirts over the carpet.

As she reached the door, she looked back and again she was gazing at the Duke and not at Honora.

The door closed behind her and there was an uncomfortable silence until the Duke said,

“I think that your aunt will have told you that we are to be married.”

Honora drew in her breath.

Then she said,

“That is what Aunt Aline told me, but I cannot understand, Your Grace, why you should wish to marry me when we have never met until this moment.”

She thought the Duke looked surprised.

Then feeling embarrassed she stared down into the fire, aware that she was trembling because she was frightened.

After what seemed a very long pause, the Duke said,

“I think you must be aware that marriages in families like mine and your uncle’s are usually arranged.”

As he spoke, Honora was distinctly aware that he was feeling for words and that was not the real reason for their marriage.

“I should have – thought,” she said hesitatingly, “that even so – it was usual for the prospective – bride and bridegroom to – meet before anything was – decided.”

The Duke made an impatient gesture with his hand and then, as if making up his mind, he said,