“He is Lord Severn.”
“Ah!” In the midst of her astonishment a bitter thought came into her mind. “Now I begin to understand. So that is why Lord Severn left the house the moment I arrived, without seeing me.”
“Yes, that is the reason.”
“And why was I asked to come here, then? Why did he let his wife bring me here to sing for hire in my own father’s house? Oh, it was cruel, cruel!”
The marquis shook beneath the reproach.
“He did not know; the marchioness arranged it without telling him. Your father knew nothing of it till you were here.”
“And the marchioness?” she demanded, with sudden fire.
“The marchioness has never heard that you are his daughter. It has been kept a secret from every one.”
The expression of Belle’s face became hard.
“I see. Lord Severn is a great nobleman, I suppose, and he was ashamed of the poor little music-hall singer whom he had cast off as soon as she was born, and whom he never wished to see. So that is why he ordered his nephew to speak to me, to warn me off the premises, lest I should embarrass him before his noble wife and daughter. And now he has sent you to complete the work.” She rose to her feet in bitter indignation. “Well, you may tell my father that he has no need to fear. I will not trouble him; I will go.”