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“Yes. In marriages of convenience, it is quite common for both partners to seek pleasure outside the marriage, once the wife has done her duty of course.”

“Her duty?”

“Ensured the succession.”

“I see,” Sarah clenched her hands on the sheet. He had offered her a marriage of convenience—in his own words! He no doubt assumed I knew what that meant!

“I only tell you this to save you from the shock later, should it turn out that the duke...”

“Yes, I see. Thank you, Daphne,” said Sarah, her voice shaking. “I cannot believe that Papa keeps a mistress.”

“Oh, I shouldn’t think so. He is a man of the cloth, after all, and a devout one. He is quite devoted to your mother.” Daphne patted her hand. “It is much more common among the upper classes, where the gentlemen can afford it. Keeping a mistress is expensive.”

“Expensive.”

“Yes, there is the house, servants, a carriage, clothes, jewelry, all paid for by the woman’s protector.

But I shouldn’t think it is something you need concern yourself about in the immediate future, Sarah.

The duke strikes me as the sort of man who will keep his vows at least until he has an heir and the succession is properly secured.

By that time, you may have snared him deeply enough that he won’t stray at all. ”

“But if he still has a mistress now?”

“That is only a rumor, I don’t know if it is true.”

“It is a quite specific and detailed rumor for an untruth.”

“For all I know, he may have given her up. Given her a congé.”

“Congé?”

“Farewell gift. A substantial payment to secure her comfort until she can find another protector.”

“I see.” Sarah felt ill and very weary. “I think it is time I went to sleep,” she said, sliding down the bed and rolling onto her side.

“Good night, my dear, and try not to worry so much about the duke. I believe all the signs are very positive that he esteems you highly. I am confident you will find great felicity in your marriage with him, Sarah. He is a good man.” For the third time that night, she heard that term applied to the duke.

But he had offered her a marriage of convenience.

She swallowed, her throat tightening. She would not cry, could not, for if Daphne heard her, she would demand to know what was wrong.

And Sarah was too ashamed to tell her that she was so hopelessly in love with the duke that the notion he wanted a marriage of convenience made her ill.

In the morning she slept very late, but then so did the rest of the household.

Daphne was still asleep when she went down to breakfast, and she met only the servants, being informed that the duchess and Lady Ava were having trays in their rooms and the Layne men had all breakfasted earlier and gone riding in the park.

After a light breakfast, she went in search of some quiet reading to soothe her troubled heart and ventured into the library.

She found a book and curled up on one of the sofas.

A few minutes later, she became conscious of a purring noise and looked down to see an exquisite little black cat with a torn ear and emerald-green eyes rubbing herself against the sofa.

“Gosh, where did you spring from?” she asked, bending to pat the creature. The little cat uttered a mrrp noise and leaped up into her lap where she proceeded to knead and circle, rubbing her face against Sarah’s hand.

“Sarah?” The duke’s voice behind her made her start. She looked round and he came toward her. “I trust you slept well?” he asked, bending to kiss her cheek before she could react. “Ah, I see you’ve made Em’s acquaintance.”

“Em?”

“Emerald,” he said, petting and scratching the cat under her chin.

“I didn’t know you had a cat.”

“She is a fairly recent acquisition.” He picked her up and cuddled her, she even let him roll her onto her back and pat her tummy.

Sarah stared at this side of him she had never seen before.

“She found me on the steps of the Levington’s house waiting for my carriage and inveigled me into bringing her home. ”

“She’s a stray?”

“Yes, poor thing. She had this ratty ear and was thin as a rake. No longer so skinny now though, are you madam?” he said, rubbing her tummy.

Sarah gaped at him. After the revelations from Daphne last night, she was in a muddle about how she felt about him. And this was just another piece of the puzzle to confuse her more.

He sat down beside her still holding the cat.

“Mama and Ava will be leaving for The Castle in a few days to get the wedding preparations underway. I thought that would be a good time for us to visit your parents. I’ve already written to your father.

Do you think you could be ready to travel on Thursday? ”

“I suppose so,” she said, feeling winded.

“If we leave early, we should be able to make it in one day. It will be tiring but better than staying somewhere overnight, I think. My carriage is well sprung, and with a team of four we should make good time. What do you think?”

“Ah—yes. Yes, it will be wonderful to see my family.” The thought of seeing them again made her heart surge with joy.

“Good.” He put down the cat and kissed her hand.

“I look forward to meeting them very much.” He said it with such a warm smile, her heart turned over in her breast. He is doing it again!

Charming me into falling for him, and I must not!

She needed to remember this was a marriage of convenience.

She was giving him her money. He was giving her a title—not that she wanted one—but that was all he was offering.

She thought about the faceless Madeleine and felt sick.