“I think that was – why Papa made me marry you – he said he wanted me to marry an Englishman – whose name was respected and he would never permit me – to be snatched up by a fortune-hunter.”
“I think your father was frightened that might happen and he would be too ill to protect you.”
“I had no wish – to marry anyone at present – and certainly not in such a hurry.”
“I felt the same,” the Earl answered. “But now, Kristina, as you appreciate the situation, I suggest, as I have already said, that we start at the beginning. We have just met and first of all we need to get to know and understand each other. That will be almost as exciting and difficult as exploring a new country.”
Kristina actually laughed.
It was a very pretty sound and the Earl noted that it changed the expression on her
