“What has happened?”
“A great deal, Grandmama!” the Earl smiled.
He walked to the side of the bed, lifted her hand to his lips and then said,
“I want you to be the first to congratulate me because I am the happiest man in the world!”
The Countess looked at him, then at Sandra as she said,
“What has occurred? Why have I not been told? What have you kept from me?”
The Earl laughed.
“It is something I have only just learnt myself, Grandmama, that I am a free man! Yvonne died eighteen months ago!”
The Countess stared at him before she asked,
“You are quite sure of this?”
“Absolutely certain! I have even learnt where she is buried and that she had a large funeral and the Service was performed by the Bishop of Paris.”
“I suppose there was no chance of our being informed,” the Countess
