“What’s happened to Her Grace?”
“Your Mistress has fainted.”
He put Honora very gently down on the bed.
“Undress her and put her into bed,” he said, “and I will fetch her something to drink.”
“Oh, my poor lady!” Emily exclaimed. “Whatever made her faint?”
The Duke did not reply. He was relieved to learn that, after he had left the house, James had obviously not talked to the other servants but had remained on duty in the hall.
He went downstairs again and, as he passed the footman, he said,
“I gather, James, that you have not spoken to anybody about what happened this evening.”
“No, Your Grace.”
“I congratulate you on behaving in a most sensible manner,” the Duke said, “and I trust you to keep everything that occurred to yourself.”
James flushed at his Master’s praise and replied
