CHAPTER SIX“For as much as it has pleased Almighty God of His great mercy to take unto Himself the soul of our dear brother here departed, we therefore commit his body to the ground, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust – ”
The old Vicar intoned the words and the Duke, who had heard them many times before, wondered if they sounded gloomy and depressing to Benedicta.
She was standing on the other side of the grave, her head bowed, the black gown that Mrs. Newall had hurriedly made for her, accentuating the white translucence of her skin.
She looked very ethereal and more waif-like than usual, and the Duke longed to put his arms around her, as he had the night her father had died.
He found it impossible to speak to her the last two days before the funeral took place.
He knew tha
