She could not run with the sherry in her hands. But she felt because she was agitated that her breath was coming quickly and her heart was pounding as she reached the study.
As she walked into it, she saw to her surprise that the Duke was sitting at what had been her father’s desk and was going through the drawers.
There were several pieces of paper in front of him on the blotter that were embellished with the Tetbury Coat of Arms in gold and after a second’s resentment at what he was doing Ilina remembered that he was entitled as the new Duke to do anything he wished.
“I am sorry to have taken so long, Your Grace,” she apologised, “but the butler had to fetch the sherry from the cellar and luncheon is now being prepared for you.”
She put the salver down on the desk in front of him and
