Belinda sighed. “Mr. Mudgley would not let Mrs. Pilling put me in prison,” she said. “He would marry me instead, and then I should be safe.”
“I shall do my best to find him for you,” promised the Duke;
“Yes, but if you don’t find him I shall not know what to do,” said Belinda sadly.
“Nonsense! We will think of something for you,”
“Oh!” said Belinda. “Will you marry me, sir?”
“No, that he will not!” declared Tom, revolted.
“Why not?” asked Belinda, opening her eyes at him.
“He is not such a gudgeon as to be thinking of marrying, like a stupid girl!” Tom said contemptuously.
The Duke intervened rather hastily. “Now, Belinda, you know you don’t want to marry me!” he said. “You want to marry Mr. Mudgley!”
“Yes, I do, ” agreed Belinda, her eyes filling. “But Uncle Swithin took me away from him, and Mr. Ware did not marry me either, so what is to become of me?”