"Oh, Jeff!" she said.
He went on, heedless of reproach. "It has come to this with me: friendship, if it comes at all, must come after. You tell me Chesyl is not your lover. Do you deny that he has ever made love to you?"
"Since he knew of my marriage—never!" she said.
"Yet you ride home with him in the dark hand in hand!" said Jeff.
The colour flamed in her face and as swiftly died. "Hugh Chesyl is not my lover," she said proudly.
"And you expect me to believe you?" he said.
"I do."
He gazed at her without pity. "You will secure my belief in you," he said, "only by coming to me as my wife."
A great shiver went through her. She stood silent.