"Child, what upon earth are you doing?" he exclaims.
Reine looks around, brightly.
"Only packing these things away for Maud," she explains.
"For Maud?" Mr. Langton gasps.
"Yes, sir. I shall forward them to her as soon as I find out where she is staying," she replies, pausing to admire a richly-chased bracelet, set with rubies, before she closes the satin-lined case.
"The deuce you will," Mr. Langton growls. "Upon my word I never saw such cool impertinence in my life. Who authorized you to do such a thing?"
"I took the liberty myself," Reine responds, flashing a laughing glance upon his indignant face.
"Very well. Let me inform you, Mrs. Charteris, that these things belong to you, not to Maud. They were given to my heiress, and Vane's bride, therefore they are your own."
The beautiful color flows into her face, but she shakes her small head resolutely.