“Miss Holden?” Rosina echoed sharply.
She realised that she had almost forgotten the wealthy Lettice. It was a rude shock to be reminded of her now.
“You know how you and I have been longing to marry her off to Sir John,” Lady Doreen said mischievously.
“Have we?” asked Rosina, who had no recollection of longing for any such thing.
“Of course. A rich wife will be of enormous benefit to him, and I understand that it’s almost settled between them.”
“Nonsense,” said Rosina before she could stop herself. “If that were so he would have told me, or at least my father.”
“But perhaps delicacy prevented him,” Lady Doreen said. “A man naturally doesn’t like to appear too confident until he has received a firm answer.”
Rosina was very pale, and suddenly she could hardly find the breath to ask
