Mariota looked embarrassed.
She was aware that his groom came over every day from Madresfield to look after the stallion and to exercise him.
She had never thought of suggesting that he might stay at Queen’s Ford, but she thought now it was what she should have done.
It was only because she was so ignorant of the manner in which anybody as important and as wealthy as the Earl would travel that it had not crossed her mind.
“I-I am sorry,” she said after a moment.
“Forgive me,” the Earl replied. “I was really only teasing. I am very comfortable and everything is perfect as it is.”
“I am afraid that’s not true,” Mariota said unhappily. “I am very ignorant of the way that you and your friends live, but I know that the Duke is very grand and everybody talks about the parties he gives at M
