Chapter 144

My father paid no attention to the rake of man standing next to him.

A servant announces that dinner was ready. “We should be seated, please follow me please.” My mother says, Marquess Browne offers his arm to me and I reluctantly take it as we begin to follow my parents to the dining hall. “You look lovely tonight my dear,” he says to me. I feign shyness, “thank you my lord, your compliment is most gracious.”

“My lord” the butler addressed my father, “Duke Angelo has arrived and has requested to speak with you on an urgent matter.” My mother looks at my father quizzingly, he drops my mothers arm leaving us with the marquee. “Shall we?” my mother says, gesturing her hand towards the dining hall. Marquess Browne offers my mother his other arm, escorting us.

Upon reaching the dining table the marquee pulls out my mothers chair to the left of the chair at the head of the table. As the marquee comes around to the other side of the table where he and I sit. I hear the laughter of my fat