“But they tried to persuade you?”
“They did,” the Duke agreed, “but I defied my father and, when that made him furious with me, I went abroad.”
“Did that make you feel any – happier?”
“I found it extremely interesting and it made me determined that never again would I be subservient to anybody or do anything that was against my own instincts.”
“So you never – married again,” Elizabeth said softly.
“I was determined not to and I also, you will understand, hated The Castle and preferred to live in any of my other houses rather than here.”
“So that is why I never met you,” Elizabeth remarked.
“If I had met you and found that you were already married,” the Duke said, “it would have broken my heart! But now, my lovely one, I am asking you to make up to me for all the years when I have ha
