The Marquis raised his eyebrows.
“I know Prince Frederick, but I had no idea that his wife was your aunt.”
“She is not,” the Earl said, “and that is the whole point of what I am telling you.”
The way he spoke, told the Marquis he did not like being interrupted, and he went on,
“The marriage was arranged and, because it was made quite obvious to my grandfather that the Prince expected a very large dowry with his bride, he behaved in what I consider a very reprehensible manner.”
“What did he do?” the Marquis asked already knowing the answer.
“He settled a considerable sum of money on my aunt and for some reason I have never been able to ascertain made it over to her on the day before the Wedding actually took place.”
The Marquis was listening intently, but he did not interrupt and the
