‘You have chosen an appropriate moment, Miss Lindon, to make to me such a communication.’
She chose to disregard my irony.
‘I am glad you think so, because now you will understand what a difficult position I am in.’
‘I offer you my hearty congratulations.’
‘And I thank you for them, Mr Atherton, in the spirit in which they are offered, because from you I know they mean so much.’
I bit my lip,—for the life of me I could not tell how she wished me to read her words.
‘Do I understand that this announcement has been made to me as one of the public?’
‘You do not. It is made to you, in confidence, as my friend,—as my greatest friend; because a husband is something more than friend.’ My pulses tingled. ‘You will be on my side?’
She had paused,—and I stayed silent.
‘On your side,—or Mr Lessingham’s?’