Chapter FourRiding towards Marshfield House, Alita felt her heart still pounding from the altercation she had just had with her uncle.
The Duchess and Hermione had been to a dinner party the night before and, when Alita entered the breakfast room, she found only her uncle sitting at the table.
“Good morning, Uncle Lionel!” she said. “I am sorry to be late, but Sam was worried about Sparkling Knight’s fetlock.”
The Duke only grunted and, as Alita sat down, a footman offered her a dish of bacon and eggs.
She was feeling rather breathless as she had run up the three flights of stairs to her bedroom to pull off her habit and hurry into the first gown she found, buttoning it up at the back as she ran back downstairs.
The Duke did not speak until the servants had left the room.
Then he rai
