It was true, Honora thought looking back, that her father had lived every moment of his life fully and completely and to him satisfyingly.

It had been tiresome that he had not enough money, but he enjoyed everything he did.

She had never known him not ready to help anyone else less fortunate than himself, even though it often entailed sacrifices on the part of herself and her mother.

‘No,’ she thought, ‘neither Papa nor Mama would wish me to go into a Convent. Therefore, as there is nothing else I can do except marry the Duke, I must try to make him – happy.’

She felt this might be difficult and she wondered what it would be like being the wife of a man who not only disliked the idea of having to marry at all but might dislike her personally.

‘It is going to be very, very difficult,’ she thought when she went to bed.

When she said her prayers, she prayed fervently that both her mother and her father would help her.

‘I am frightened,’ she told them. ‘Please – please be near me, and guide me in what I should say and do – and not make the Duke – angry as Aunt Aline is so angry with me.’

She had the feeling she might hear an answer to her prayer, but there was only the darkness and, as she climbed into bed she felt very young, inexperienced and alone.

‘Please – Papa and Mama – listen,’ she whispered.

But again there was no answer, only silence.

CHAPTER FOUR

Honora had never thought that buying clothes could be so tiring.

The next morning she had received a message to say that her Ladyship would be waiting for her in an hour’s time and from the moment she went downstairs she felt that she was running in an endless race.

First of all the Countess rushed her to the best and most expensive dressmaker in Bond Street and chose a dozen gowns from sketches and materials that were to be made up in record time.

She then found two gowns that were already half-finished for another customer and by browbeating and bribery had them diverted to Honora.

All the time she was doing this she was impressing upon Honora how fortunate she was and how she should be overwhelmed with gratitude for being treated in such an exceptional manner.

But the way her aunt spoke of her becoming a Duchess and the almost offensively condescending manner in which she spoke to the dressmaker and her assistants, made Honora feel very uncomfortable.

She had never known her mother to be anything but sweet, kind and polite to those who served her.

But she had already gathered that the Countess when she was with her guests and people she respected was an entirely different person from what she was at other times.

‘I hope I never get like that,’ Honora thought.

She was certain that if she behaved as her mother would wish her to do, whether she was a Duchess or her insignificant self, she would always respect other people’s feelings and be pleasant to them.