“I will have a glass of champagne,” the Dowager cried. “You are right, Silvanus, never let people persuade you into doing something you don’t want to do. Life is short and you are a long time in the grave, you might as well enjoy yourself while you can.”
“Which you have always done, Grandmama.”
A footman appeared and his Master gave him an order and crossed the room to sit down again beside the old lady.
“Tell me, Grandmama,” he enquired, “what really brought you to see me? I cannot believe that you really thought that you could persuade me into marriage! There must have been another reason.”
“I wanted to see you,” his grandmother replied. “You may be a reprobate, but I have always liked you better than my other grandchildren. Well behaved creatures they may be, but I find it hard to s
