She Offered Him Her Umbrella in the Rain—Unaware the Stranger Was the Duke Who Owned Her Village

He was plainly dressed for travel, quietly spoken, and his horse had thrown a shoe outside the blacksmith's forge. It was raining. Nora Finch had an umbrella. She offered it. He accepted with more grace than she expected. They talked for twenty minutes — longer than either had planned — sheltered on the wet cobblestones while the rain came down and the forge fire burned behind them. He did not give his name. She did not ask. Three days later, the Duke of Rendwick arrived to inspect his estate. Nora was already inside it.