For the first time since it had happened Romana remembered Lord Kirkhampton saying,
“I have a task for you and one that will very doubtless bring you many advantages in the future if you have the sharpness to grasp at anything you can get out of it.”
She had not understood what he meant, but now she supposed that he had been referring to the fact that she would be the Marchioness of Sarne.
As if the Marquis read her thoughts, he said sharply,
“I thought Kirkhampton would make it very clear to you if you had not thought it out for yourself, which I am sure you had. Well then, what do you want? You might as well tell me now.”
“I want – nothing,” Romana said, “except if it was possible – not to be married and – not to be – here.”
The Marquis laughed and it was not a very comforting soun
