Chapter SixTara and the Duke could only stare at the Earl as if he had taken leave of his senses.
Then the Duke asked,
“What are you talking about, Charles? I cannot understand.”
The Earl ignored him.
His eyes were on Tara’s face as he enquired,
“Why were you called Tara?”
“My mother had a locket round her neck with the name engraved on it.”
“You have it!”
Tara put her hand up to her neck and the Earl said impatiently,
“Let me see.”
She pulled the chain up from behind her white collar and slipped it over her head to put the locket into his outstretched hand.
He stared down at it and Tara thought by the expression on his face that he was deeply moved.
“If you open it,” he said, “you will find that there is a lock of my hair inside.”
“I wondered – whose it – was,” Tara said in a
