CHAPTER SEVENThe following morning Miss Regine Shelford and her fiancé, the Duke of Bedley, arrived from London. They were to attend the special supper planned in honour of Davina’s engagement to Howard Delverton.
Lord Shelford met the Duke’s coach at the door. He embraced his elder daughter warmly and shook the Duke’s hand. Regine’s chaperone, meanwhile, a lady of severe mien and ample bosom, descended from the coach and stood waiting with a grimly disapproving air.
Mrs. Crouch – for that was her name – had been employed by Lord Shelford in London and she had not expected her duties to bring her this far north. It might as well have been outer Mongolia, for all she knew of it!
Regine was looking round impatiently. “Papa, where is Davina? I thought she would be here to greet us!”
Lord
