CHAPTER TWO

“You are very quiet,” the Duke complained accusingly.

He was speaking to everybody seated around the dining room table, but he was looking at Caroline.

Elfa also looked at her apprehensively as she was aware that Caroline was controlling her feelings with the utmost difficulty.

She had been prepared when earlier in the morning her father had sent for her and said,

“I have some very good news for you, Caroline. In fact I consider you are a very lucky girl.”

“Why, Papa?”

“Because the Duke of Lynchester wishes to marry you and is calling this afternoon to ask you formally to be his wife.”

If the Duke was apprehensive to what his daughter’s reaction would be, he did not show it except that perhaps his voice was louder and he spoke a little more positively than usual.

Although that was what she knew her father was going to say, Caroline nearly burst into tears.

Then she recalled Elfa’s strict instructions and managed to say,

“It is a – big surprise – Papa, but a – great honour.”

“That is just what I knew you would think,” the Duke said with satisfaction. “It is a very great honour and I can imagine nothing more pleasing, my dear, than to see you a Duchess and know that you are living next door.”

Caroline had escaped from him as soon as she possibly could and run up the stairs to the schoolroom to fling her arms around Elfa.

She was trembling and it was impossible to speak.

“Did you answer as I told you to do?” Elfa asked her.

Caroline nodded.

“That was sensible of you. He must not suspect for a moment that you intend to oppose him.”

“But suppose – just suppose – ” Caroline began in a frightened voice.

“Leave everything to me,” Elfa interrupted. “Just be quiet and composed at luncheon and say as little as possible.”

“I shall cry – I know – I shall cry,” Caroline murmured.

“If you do, you will ruin everything,” Elfa said. “This is our only chance, Caroline, and, if you mess it up, there will be nothing I or anybody else can do to save you from marrying the Duke.”

This threat made her try frantically to do as Elfa had told her.

Now before Caroline could reply to her father, Elfa said quickly,

“I think it is the weather that is giving Caroline a headache.”

“Who says she has a headache?” the Duke enquired, turning his attention to his younger daughter.

“She said that she had one when she woke up,” Elfa replied, “and it made me think that there might be thunder in the air.”

“Fiddlesticks!” the Duke commented sharply.

He looked down the table at his wife.

“If Caroline has a headache, see that she has something to cure it and that she is dressed in her prettiest gown by three o’clock.”

“Three o’clock?” the Duchess questioned, thinking that this would drastically shorten her time in the garden.

“Lynchester will be calling about an hour later,” the Duke explained, “but I don’t want you all scurrying about like a lot of scraggy hens because you are not ready.”

“No, of course not, Arthur,” the Duchess agreed.

“So I expect you and Caroline to be in the drawing room at three o’clock exactly.”

“Very well, Arthur.”

The Duke then went into a long monologue about the