three minutes past eight
When she went up to dress for dinner on the day of his expected arrival Lord Rufford had not come . Since the interview in her aunt 's room she had not heard his name mentioned . When she came into the drawing-room , a little late , he was not there . `` We wo n't wait , Duchess , '' said the Duke to his wife at three minutes past eight . The Duke 's punctuality at dinner-time was well known , and everybody else was then assembled . Within two minutes after the Duke 's word dinner was announced , and a party numbering about thirty walked away into the dinner-room . Arabella , when they were all settled , found that there was a vacant seat next herself .