Nerina was suddenly aware that she had expected to hate Wroth. She had wanted to see it and yet in her heart of hearts she had thought that she would loathe it because it had seemed to her from what she had heard of it a manifestation of power and pride.
“Why, it is lovely!”
She heard her own voice say the words involuntarily.
“Most people admire The Castle,” Sir Rupert said.
“I am not surprised,” Nerina replied. “You must be proud to own it. It must be wonderful to have a home that has belonged to one’s ancestors and to know yourself to be a part of it and to feel that you really belong there.”
She spoke sincerely out of her own loneliness, but to her astonishment Sir Rupert looked as if she had insulted him. There was something almost distorted in his expression as he said abruptly,
