"You will remember," began Barbara, seated between us, "you will
remember, Peregrine, how, when first we met, I was with Captain Danby?
I fled with him to escape a worse man, I mean Sir Geoffrey Devereux or
Haredale, as his power somehow, for even while I was at school he gave
me to understand it was his wish I should marry his friend Haredale. I
was very young, my mother long dead, and flattered by the attentions
of a man so much older than myself, I wrote him letters--silly,
girlish letters very full of romantic nonsense--Anthony has seen them.
But the oftener I met Sir Geoffrey, the less I liked him, until my
feeling changed to dread. Captain Danby, seeing this, offered his
help, and deceiving his friend would have deceived me also, as you
will remember--"
"Damned scoundrel!" snorted Anthony.
"It was while in Italy with Diana--Anthony had just left me--that I
met Sir Geoffrey again. He dared to make love to me and when I
repulsed him, threatened to show my silly letters to Anthony. Then,
thank God, we came home! But he followed and upon the night of the
reception sent Captain Danby to me at Lord Wyvelstoke's house with a
letter--"
"Ah--it was your letter?" I exclaimed.
"Yes, Peregrine--a dreadful letter, repeating his threat that unless I
went to his chambers that very hour he would send Anthony the
letters--and I knew--I knew that if my Anthony ever saw them, he would
fight Sir Geoffrey and be killed--"
"Not alone though, Loveliness!" said Anthony, between shut teeth.
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