CHAPTER THREEThey had a stilted conversation for a few minutes, the Duke asking in a rather bored voice what Honora’s journey had been like from France and the Countess answering before she could say it had been rough in the Channel.
Then in a somewhat exaggerated and theatrical voice and an expression in her dark eyes that Honora did not like to interpret, her aunt said,
“I am going to leave you together for a few minutes, but I will not be long.”
She looked at the Duke in a meaningful manner and then moved towards the door, very conscious as she did so of her graceful carriage and the rustle of her full skirts over the carpet.
As she reached the door, she looked back and again she was gazing at the Duke and not at Honora.
The door closed behind her and there was an uncomfortable sil
