Alita was sure that when her aunt looked at her disparagingly she was thinking that no man would notice her, especially Mr. Wilbur, who had not fallen in love with Hermione and yet one could never be sure.
It was important from the Duke and Duchess’s point of view that no one, especially a near neighbour, should have the slightest idea that Alita was closely related to them.
But Alita was quite certain that what her aunt said when she had aroused the Duke to take action was,
“A servant, as Alita is supposed to be, would not be allowed to go gallivanting away from her usual work as your niece has been doing. I do not really approve, Lionel, as you well know, of her working in the stables but if that is your choice then it is to be in our stables and, as we decided originally, she is not
