“I am well aware of who else I have to be grateful to,” the Duke said, “and you are one of them.”
Mr. Falkirk looked at him in surprise.
“You must be worse than I thought to be thanking me, Your Grace. You usually are bawling me out for something I have omitted to do when you have been unable to attend to it yourself!”
“Am I such a monster?” the Duke said.
“Not half as bad as your father was,” Mr. Falkirk replied.
The Duke laughed.
“Your compliments overwhelm me. As I have often said, Falkirk, I shall never grow conceited while you are about. You are far too conscious of my faults.”
“And very proud of your virtues,” Mr. Falkirk said quietly.
The two men smiled at each other. Ever since the Duke was a young boy, Mr. Falkirk had been there to help him, to guide him and at times to co
