“Thank you,” Elfa replied, “but as it is so confidential, I hope it would not be asking too much of Your Grace if you would walk with me into the shelter of the wood.”
Now the Duke looked at her in astonishment and Elfa thought for one terrifying moment that he was about to refuse.
Then, as if he was slightly amused, he said,
“Very well, but I hope this is not some joke or that I shall be sprung on by highwaymen and held to ransom for the meagre amount I carry in my pocket.”
“I can promise Your Grace faithfully that none of those things will happen.”
“Very well.”
The Duke turned his head, but there was no need to give the order to his groom who was perched in the seat behind to go to his horses’ heads and by the time the Duke had fixed the reins on the buckboard in front of him, his
