"Katherine—"
"I—"
"You know that I care for you. Do—do you care for me?"
"I—I don't know."
Weakness there. Either she knew or she did not know. If—if only—
She cast a look round desperately as though seeking something that would help her. A soft colour rose in her cheeks as a tall fair man with a limp came hurrying along the path towards them—Major Knighton.
There was relief and an unexpected warmth in her voice as she greeted him.
Derek stood up scowling, his face black as a thundercloud.
"Lady Tamplin having a flutter?" he said easily. "I must join her and give her the benefit of my system."
He swung round on his heel and left them together. Katherine sat down again. Her heart was beating rapidly and unevenly, but as she sat there talking commonplaces to the quiet, rather shy man beside her, her self-command came back.