“That oughta squeeze the money out of a heart of stone!” she laughed.

She handed it back to Honora saying,

“Address it!”

There appeared to be no envelope so Honora folded the paper, turned it over and addressed it to,

“His Grace the Duke of Tynemouth,

Tynemouth House,

Park Lane.”

She then handed it to Kate who went from the room talking to the two men in whispers as she did so.

Then, as if as an afterthought, she came back, picked up the tray with the ink and pen on it and went out again.

Honora had the idea that they too were writing a letter to the Duke and she wondered what they were saying to him.

Then, as if she was almost past thinking about it, she put her hand up to her forehead wondering if the Duke would be very angry when he received her letter.

The door opened and one of the girls she had seen peering over the banisters peeped in. She was wearing a transparent nightgown and over it a rather dirty wrap.

“You’re a real Duchess, are you?” she said. “I’ve seen Dukes, but never a Duchess afore. You looks too young.”

Honora found herself smiling.

“I only became one this morning.”

“Now if I was a Duchess,” the girl went on, “I shouldn’t be walkin’ about gettin’ meself involved wiv Molly. ’Er like as not to scratch your eyes out! She’s got the temper of a wildcat.”

“I cannot understand why she was so – annoyed with me,” Honora said.

“I’ll tell you why – ” the girl began.

At that moment there was a loud voice shouting in the hall behind her and she gave a start and said,

“That’s Lord Roxton! I thought ’e’d be along tonight.”

Without saying any more she shut the door and Honora stared after her.

She could hear voices being raised outside as somebody walked past the door. She had a sudden fear that Lord Roxton, or whoever it was, would come into the room and find her there.

She was quite certain that the Duke would not want his friends or anybody else to learn how stupid she had been in leaving the house at night and becoming involved with people who were asking ransom money for her.

After a little while the noise of voices stopped and there was silence again.

‘How could I have been so foolish?’ Honora asked herself.

The question kept repeating and repeating itself over and over in her mind until what seemed to be hours later the door of the bedroom opened again.

CHAPTER SIX

When Honora left the sitting room, the Duke had poured himself some more brandy.

As he drank it, he felt a little of the resentment and irritation he had been feeling all day begin to melt away.

He also acknowledged that dinner with his new wife had not been such a bore as he had expected and she was certainly very lovely.