Hammond’s lip curled.
“I’m afraid I haven’t.”
The marchioness glared at him.
“Mr. Hammond, are you a gentleman?”
“Well, it is rather a question, isn’t it?” he responded, with a cheerful smile which drove her frantic.
“Do you know that our family is one of the oldest in Great Britain?” she demanded, after a moment’s pause.
“Precisely. And mine is one of the newest. It would really have been a mésalliance, my dear marchioness.”
The marchioness could hardly believe her ears.
“Have you no regard for descent?” she gasped. “My daughter has royal blood in her veins, Mr. Hammond.”
“Ah! there you have me at a disadvantage,” he returned. “All my female ancestors were respectable married women.”