Then, as Virginia jumped up to run across the room to her father and they were alone, the Duke queried,
“Have you told her what you believe to be the truth or were you really just ‘sweetening the pill’ that her father’s ambitions are not likely to materialise?”
“I would not dream of telling anything but the truth,” Helga said quickly.
“Tomorrow I think I shall ask you to tell my fortune.”
Helga looked away from the Duke at the cards that she was holding in her hand.
“I think that might be a mistake and also very difficult, Your Grace,” she responded.
“Why should you say that?” he enquired.
“Because,” she replied, “if I tell you what it will please you to hear, you will suspect that I am only trying to put you in a good temper, while if I tell you something that annoys you it will be
