“Niobe is a snob like her father. She wants to sit with the Peeresses ‒ at the Opening of Parliament and if a Duke appeared at this moment the Marquis himself would be ditched – just as you have been!”
“I told you not to talk like that,” the Viscount scolded her.
“One day you will know that I am right.”
The Viscount was about to retort and then thought it undignified.
“Where do you want to go?” he asked instead, picking up his reins.
“Anywhere you are prepared – to take me.”
“Have you any money?”
“Only two guineas, which I stole off Uncle Aylmer’s dressing table.”
The Viscount let the reins go slack.
“Are you telling me quite seriously you are going out into the world on your own with nothing to keep you from starvation except for two guineas?”
There was silence and then Jemima s
