Yet Alnina was sure the equerry who was waiting for them to go to bed could not understand English, but she did not think he was as ignorant as he pretended to be.
“Come along,” she said, “the sooner we go upstairs the better.”
“I am only too willing,” the Duke replied. “I am tired and I expect you are too.”
“I have enjoyed dancing, as I have not danced for a long time.”
“Very well, I will give a ball for you, Alnina, when we return to England,” the Duke suggested.
“I only hope you will keep your promise,” Alnina said. “You know that I would enjoy it more than anything else.”
“And I say the same,” William came in. “So don’t worry. I will keep him up to scratch.”
They walked upstairs and then William went to his room and Alnina and the Duke to theirs.
The Duke she thought seemed rat
