Mira shook her head. "No, sir. It's a harbour town on the east coast near St Austell."
"Ah yes." He lifted a pale hand. "There is a small Gothic church on the edge of town with an interesting relic in it. I forgot the name."
"Do you mean the Church of St Fimbarrus, Your Grace? If so, it is in the centre of the town and there is no relic. It is of Norman origin."
"Is it now?" His dark gaze remained intently on her face. "You may be right."
Mira shifted uncomfortably and looked away.
"And how long has it been since you were last in Fowey?" he continued.
"About seven years, Your Grace."
He lifted a finger. "So you moved from Fowey to London seven years ago. You were nineteen." He drew an invisible line in the air from one point to the other.
"Yes, Your Grace."
"Why?"
Mira stared at him. "Because I, err—"I couldn't find a position as a governess, try as I might. No one would take me on because I had neither character nor references but a child. Lady Cullpepper was the only one willing to hire me as a housemaid.She nearly blurted out the whole story, then bit her tongue at the last minute. "Because..." What on earth was she supposed to say? She wasn't prepared for this. She had no idea what to reply.
"Because my mother asked Mira to be my companion." Miss Cullpepper spoke up unexpectedly.
Mira gave her a grateful look.
The duke raised an eyebrow. "Did she, now?"
Mira began to knead the dress in her lap and looked away. "Yes, Your Grace."
"Hmm." He curled his fingers. He seemed unconvinced.
Lady Evangeline took Mira's hand in hers and patted it. "Yes, and now you're here, and I think it's fabulous. Tell me one thing, Miss Taylor," she moved to sit even closer to her, with a confidential air, "you must believe in the nature of true love, do you not?"
Princess Florentina clucked.
Apollo, who'd followed the conversation sleepily, seemed to wake up.
"Evie," the duke growled.
Mira looked at her, baffled. "I beg your pardon?"
"Do you believe in true love?" She tilted her head to the side and gripped Mira's hands.
Miss Cullpepper laughed suddenly. "We just had that conversation, didn't we, Mira? Alas, I am chagrined to report that she does not."
Lady Evangeline's face fell. "You don't? But you must! Whyever would you not?"
"Evie!" The duke frowned. "Behave. Remember what we agreed upon before."
"Yes, Julius. But Miss Taylor, why? You must tell me why."
"I confess I'm rather curious about the answer to that particular question as well," Apollo sat up, leaning his elbows on his knees and looking at her with interest.
Mira looked from one to the other, wondering if they'd all gone mad. But perhaps this was the natural behaviour of the aristocracy. She wouldn't know.
To buy some time, Mira lifted her cup to drink what was left of her cold tea.
When she looked up, she found the duke watching her. Again.
