"I am sure you do not give your manners enough credit, Mr. Fisher, but I will be glad to help you in any way I can. I have a favour to return to you from the service you did me the other night. And, in any case, I would be most delighted to show you what I usually wish to do with my fork during long, boring dinners, but perhaps that is not something I should teach anyone." She shook her head thinking about the times she had been bored to tears at dinner parties. "Thank heavens my Great Aunt Perdita thought young woman needed to learn reading, riding, finance and a great many other things besides how to catch a husband!" She laughed at the thought of Aunt Perdita, the Duchess of Swainsbury. She had inherited the title in lieu of heirs male through her persuasion of King George III.
"Well, I will keep your secrets. I have a few of my own and know how dreadful it would be for a one or two of them to be exposed." She looked at him and gave a mock look of disbelief. "Have you told your secrets to beautiful women, Mr. Fisher? Let me start with that lesson, then. Never trust a beautiful women with too much. Nature has given her enough power already."
She poured out the wine and reached for a glass of champagne.