She sank slowly down again, the anger in her face changing to deepest scorn.
“With whose, then?”
“With the Marquis of Severn’s.”
“What!” She started up again in sheer astonishment. “Who dares? I have never seen nor spoken to him in my life!”
“Thank God!”
Not till he had heard the denial did the man realize what a burden it had lifted from his heart; and yet he believed that he loyally loved this woman.
“Who dares to slander me? Who dares to smirch my name with falsehoods?” Come what might, he should not go away doubting her.
“It was that man Despencer who told me first.”
“And you listened to him—you, an honorable man, and my friend?”
Hammond bowed his head. He thought he could bear her reproaches now.