"They'll be expecting me in another five minutes. I only came because I didn't want to disappoint you — and because I thought you might have something interesting to say."
"I've nothing more to — say."
"But lots of things to do?"
"Possibly."
That extraordinarily mocking smile bared his teeth.
"If only," he murmured softly — "if only your father could hear those sweet words fall from your gentle lips!"
"You'll leave my father out of it—"
"You'd like me to, wouldn't you? But that won't make me do it."
There was a renewed hardness in her eyes that had no right to be there.
"My father was framed," she said in a low voice.