“Please remove your hands!” she repeated, her voice not going up by so much as a semi-tone.
His hands fell to his sides.
“Despite what you say, Mr. Clifford,” she continued in the same even voice of calm decision, “I am not going to marry you, and I am going to marry Mr. Morton.”
He was composed again. “Perhaps you may never marry me,” he returned grimly. “But you certainly will never marry Jack Morton.”
“And why not?”
“Because I shall prevent it.”
“How?”
“By any and whatever means seem most effective.”
Her gaze sharpened. Then the red of anger faintly tinted the tawny satin of her cheek.
“You mean to say you would be low enough to tell Jack or his father about me and my family?”