CHAPTER FOURThe Marquis, standing with his back to the mantelpiece, sipped a glass of champagne as he waited for Mina.
He was thinking as he did so of his grandmother’s amusement that he should have been left with a young girl on his hands.
“This is something quite new, Tian,” she had said when he informed her of Mina’s arrival. “In the past, if I remember rightly, your lady friends have left you their horses, their dogs, quite a number of trunks, pictures and furniture to take care of, and once I recall, a parrot!”
The Marquis gave a faint smile, but he did not interrupt as she went on,
“But never do I remember anyone depositing one of their children on you. This is certainly an innovation!”
“Nadine Lydford had to leave unexpectedly for India.”
“Hardly unexpectedly when we all knew
