She had no wish to cause her grandfather worry. Of course he would know where she had gone and would seek her out in a few days when his temper had cooled a little. He would still be very angry, and there would be a scene, perhaps several, but eventually Grandy would accept the fact that this arranged marriage was an affront to himself as well as to her, since that man so obviously did not wish to join himself to the Earl’s family. So she set her dainty jaw and kept tears from her eyes with a real effort, and occupied her mind sensibly during the trip with what story she would offer the staff at Sayre Court—all old friends, allies—and critics. It then occurred to her, with a pang of fear, that the Earl might not be the only angry visitor to the Court. What if the Duke decided he did wish to marry her? Or, more likely, that he must honor his father’s commitment, whatever his own feelings in the matter? A lowering thought! As the much-indulged only grandchild of the Earl of Sayre, Belinda had never known humiliation until now.
