To Gloria’s surprise her father was alone in the drawing room.
“I want to talk to you, my dearest,” he began as she sat down on the sofa by the window.
She looked at him warily, feeling that it was somewhat strange that there was no one else present.
“Before you start, Papa,” she said quickly, “I want to make it quite clear that I have no intention of marrying Prince Darius, whom I have never met. You know you and Mama have always said that you did not approve of arranged marriages.”
“I know,” the Duke agreed quietly, “but the position now is rather different.”
“In what way?” Gloria asked him resolutely.
She could not keep her voice from sounding hostile.
Her father took her hand and then sat down beside her on the sofa to say,
“You know that I married your mother despite a great d
