“On the contrary, there is no such person,” she retorted, “and it was not about my heart that I wished to speak.”
“Indeed! Confessions from beautiful young women invariably involve the vacillations of their hearts.”
“I am afraid I am not as experienced in such matters as you, my Lord,” Serena replied and thought for one moment that there was a faint twitch at the corner of Lord Vulcan’s mouth as if he appreciated her thrust.
“I apologise,” the Marquis answered. “I will make no more guesses as to what you wish to confess.”
“We were speaking just now,” Serena answered, “of my fortune and you believed, my Lord, that on my marriage I should inherit eighty thousand pounds. This is not correct.”
“Indeed?”
“No, it will be seventy-nine thousand pounds to be exact. I must be honest with you.
