“But I am quite unable to pay such a sum,” said Gilly.
Mr. Liversedge spread out his hands. “It is very disagreeable for me to be obliged to remind you, sir, that you are nearly related to one, who, I am persuaded, would not regard such a trifling sum any more than you or I would regard a crown piece.”
“Sale?” said the Duke. “Oh, he would never pay it!”
Mr. Liversedge said in a shocked voice: “I cannot be brought to believe, sir, that his Grace would grudge it!”
The Duke shook his head sadly. “I do not stand next to him in the succession, you know. I have two uncles, and a cousin before me. And my father, Mr. Liversedge, is not a rich man.”
“I cannot credit that his Grace would permit his name to be dragged through the mire of the Courts!” said Mr. Liversedge, with resolution.
“And I am sure,” said the Duke gently, “that you would shrink from dragging your niece’s name through that mire.”
“Shrink, yes,” acknowledged Mr. Liversedge. “But I shall steel myself, Mr. Ware. That is, I should do so if his Grace were to prove adamant. But what a shocking thing if the head of such a noble house should have so little regard for his name!”
“I wonder what course you had the intention of pursuing if I had fled to Gretna Green with your niece?” said the Duke thoughtfully. “For I cannot suppose that an alliance for her with anyone so lacking in fortune and expectation as myself was what you had in mind!”
“Certainly not,” replied Mr. Liversedge, without a blush. “But she is a minor, after all! little more than a child! The marriage might have been set aside—at a price.”