“I have not thought it out yet,” the Duke went on, “but perhaps I could suggest to your father that because I intend to expand my breeding of mares very considerably in the next few years, I would like to rent some land from him and that would mean I could keep it in good trim, reseed it and perhaps even take over one of his farms.”
Samala clasped her hands together and said,
“Could you really do that without Papa thinking you were being charitable?”
“I assure you I am well known for my tact in matters of that sort.”
“I am sure you are!” Samala exclaimed. “But how can you be so marvellous and so kind as to think of something that would make Papa happy and rich again?”
“I want to make you happy,” the Duke said in his deep voice.
“That is what I want to make you – ”
She jumped off the
