“Her father has no right to force her into an odious marriage against her will,” declared Frank. “It is possible that she needs protection from him.”
“What insolence!” fumed Lord Stanford. “I never heard anything like it! There’s not an English boy living who would dare think of attempting such a thing.”
“Possibly not; but you are not dealing with an English boy, sir. I am American to the bone.”
“And what you need is a good sound drubbing.”
“Possibly you think of giving it to me? If so, I advise you to take off your coat, as you will find it warm work, I assure you.”
Inza clung to Frank, looking up at his handsome face with an expression of admiration in her dark eyes.
“You young scoundrel! Perhaps you do not know whom you are addressing?”
“It makes no difference to me, sir.”
“I am Lord Stanford, of——”
“I don’t care if you are the lord of all Europe! You are on American soil now, and dealing with a full-blooded American.”