She reached the Duchess’s side and spoke in a low voice as if she did not wish Aspasia to hear what was said and yet every word was quite audible.
“It’s no use, Your Grace. She’s running a high temperature and there’s no chance of her coming down for dinner this evening.”
“Damn the little fool! This is a nice time to be ill!” the Duchess blurted out furiously.
Aspasia was astonished.
She had never thought is possible that a lady of the Duchess’s standing would swear.
“There’s nothing I can do, Your Grace,” the woman went on. “If I got her on her feet, she’d be worse than useless in the state she’s in.”
“Then what the devil are we to do?” the Duchess asked. “We cannot switch any of the other girls. You know as well as I do Lord Dagenham always expects to have Gracie and Lord Wilbraham
