But what did the duke mean?
Had he not a duchess already?
True, he was not on the best of terms with her.

He had been forced into marriage by his father and he and his wife had been separated some six years.

But this made no difference.

The duchess was still in the world.
Polly--henceforth she dropped the Lavinia--heard what his grace had to say but gave him no encouragement beyond smiling bewitchingly now and again.

She did not dislike him, but she did not care for him.