His eyes were as hard as steel as he said,

“Pull yourself together, Aline. As we are both aware, servants talk and so do those who are in attendance on Her Majesty.”

Because of the implication of what he was saying, the colour seeped into the Countess’s face, but her eyes narrowed and her lips seemed to spit at him as she retorted,

“I understand what you are doing, Ulric, and I hate you, do you hear? I hate you!”

She had, however, in view of what he had said, lowered her voice to little more than a whisper.

The Duke merely opened the door.

As he moved into the hall, there was nothing the Countess could do but follow him and he said in a clear tone that could be overheard by the servants waiting at the front door,

“It was exceedingly kind of you to bring me these wedding presents. As you say, they are of such importance that Honora and I will have to write immediately to thank for them.”

The Countess had reached his side by this time and, as they walked on together, he continued,

“I am only sorry that you cannot wait to see Honora. We have only just come in from riding and she is resting, but I know she will be very upset to have missed you.”

They passed through the front door and, as they were going down the steps, the Duke went on,

“Please give my best wishes to your husband and, of course, we are both writing to thank him and you for the magnificent reception you gave for our wedding.”

As he finished speaking, he raised the Countess’s hand perfunctorily to his lips and then stood back to allow her footman to help her into her carriage.

The door was closed, the footman jumped up on the box and the horses started off.

The Duke did not wait to see her go, but walked quickly up the steps and back into the house.

Only as he reached the library again, did he feel as if he had fought a desperate battle in which he had been overwhelmingly victorious, but not without inflicting casualties.

The Duke seldom drank port and after dinner he left the dining room with Honora.

When they reached the drawing room, the butler poured a little brandy into a large glass and handed it to his Master on a silver salver.

The Duke accepted it and, as the servant left the room, he put it down on a side table and said,

“I have something to suggest to you, Honora.”

She had moved towards the piano and was intending to play it as she had the previous night.

Then she had played him a piece by Chopin and one by Schubert before he had said,

“Now play me something of your own.”

“I-I feel rather shy at following the great masters. You are bound to think my work very – inferior.”

“I think actually it will tell me a great number of things that you are too shy to tell me yourself,” the Duke replied unexpectedly.