Even the King had remonstrated with him over what the women he left broken-hearted called his ‘callousness and cruelty’.
“What is the matter with you, Taran?” His Majesty asked. “You have more love affairs in a year than I have horses in my stable.”
“Like you, Sire, I am looking for a winner!” the Duke had replied.
The King had chuckled, admitting that he himself was invariably beguiled by a new and pretty face.
“At the same time, Taran,” he went on, “you must remember that these frail creatures have feelings and in my opinion you leave too many of them weeping.”
“A woman only weeps when she cannot get what she wants,” the Duke replied cynically. “They must learn to accept the inevitable, Sire, that I am unobtainable.”
The King had laughed, but nevertheless the Duke was scowling when
