“I think I understand – what you are asking me,” Dorina said, “but I believe that everything you strove for and learnt in the Army was only a preparation, planned for you by fate or, as I believe, by God, so that when the time came you would not fail those who rely on you and who belong to you because they are your people.”
The Earl laughed and it was a very tender sound. Then he said,
“Oh, my darling, only you could give me an answer like that, which is so true, but at the same time is not really what I wanted to hear.”
At the endearment Dorina’s eyes widened in surprise and he continued,
“Surely you realise now that what I am trying to say in a roundabout way is that I love you.”
“You – love – me?”
The words were only a murmur beneath her breath, but her face was suddenly radiant w
