Chapter twoThey drove on for a short while in silence until the Duke said,
“Why have I never heard about you before?”
He thought, although he was not sure, that Janeta drew in her breath before she replied,
“Stepmama did not want to – acknowledge that I even – existed. That was why I was sent away to school four years ago and not allowed to come – home for the – holidays.”
“For four years!” the Duke exclaimed.
He could hardly believe such a situation was possible, but Janeta went on.
“I was quite happy with the nuns, but it was very lonely being the only girl who – appeared to have no family.”
The Duke calculated that she must have been fourteen when she went to school and he asked,
“How old were you when your mother died?”
“I was twelve,” Janeta replied, “and for two years it was
