“I can see the difficulty,” the Marquis admitted slowly. “The Duke kept saying publicly how proud he would have been of his son-in-law and the girl fainted at his funeral. The Queen sent a telegram of condolence.”
“So my father said nothing.”
“He merely went on paying an allowance to Rupert’s wife. It was doubtful whether, if the family had learnt of her existence, they would have accepted her under the circumstances. And the scandal would have affected us all.”
“But morally it was inexcusable for her to be treated in such a disgraceful manner,” the Marquis pointed out, “and, when she died, you told the Bank to terminate the allowance my father had made her.”
The Dowager Marchioness rose to her feet.
“I saw no reason,” she said in a cold voice, “why your father’s estate should go on b
