CHAPTER SIX“Did you have a good ride out, dear?”
Nanny stood in the doorway of Henrietta’s room, her old shawl draped about her and her hair unpinned.
Henrietta leaned down quickly to unhook her boots. She had been crouched broodingly in the armchair for over an hour, weeping tears of frustration, and she did not want Nanny to see her stained cheeks.
“It was fine, Nanny,” she murmured. “Fine.”
Nanny looked perplexed. She had been expecting Henrietta to return rosy with health and eyes sparkling with pleasure. Instead of which her charge seemed subdued.
“Who accompanied you on the ride?”
Henrietta started on the other boot.
“The the Duke’s groom Joe,” she replied in as light a tone as she could muster.
Nanny was not deceived. Something was troubling the girl.
“Did anything improper
