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out of his arms. “Don’t! Don’t touch me! Don’t touch me!”
    She fled up the stairs, along dark passages, to the safety of her chamber, her chamber, hers alone, with a key in the door.
    For hours Letty sat on the window seat, gazing blankly into the night. At last the chill penetrated her daze. Slowly, with numb fingers, she began to undress.
    Her locket was gone. And her cap! Her hairpins, scattered on the floor of the hall.
    With a dry sob, she wrapped a warm shawl about her and crept back down the stairs. The polished oak of the floor was bare, no betraying sign of cap or pins. Her locket, which could have dropped off any time by chance, lay on the table, beside the flickering lamp. She picked it up.
    The catch was undone. He had looked inside, had seen the lock of steel grey hair that must be her father’s, that could not possibly be her young husband’s.
    What Harry might make of it, she was beyond guessing.
    He was long gone when she awoke in the morning. When she rang, Betsy brought her tea and toast instead of the hot water she expected.
    “Her ladyship said she’s set the children their lessons, madam, and you’re to lie abed as long as you want. Oh, and here’s a package Mr Talgarth asked me to give you.” She delved into the pocket of her apron.
    Flustered, Letty took the small parcel. “I daresay he has left something for the twins. They will miss him. Thank you, Betsy. I shall get up in half an hour.”
    As soon as the chamber door closed behind the maid, Letty tore open the parcel: her cap, of course, and the hairpins—had he really called her hair glorious?
    And a letter. She unfolded it with trembling fingers.
     
    My dearest Letty—Give me leave to call you thus!—I depart for London with a heavy heart. Were our errand less important, were I able to tell my cousin the true reason I wish to stay—but I will not lie.
    You are deeply offended, and rightly so, yet I meant no offence. Such ungentlemanly conduct is inexcusable, yet I dare to hope that your tender heart will excuse me. I can only plead that you were irresistible. You must be aware of my admiration, and you surely cannot suppose that I would toy with your affections! My aim is honourable—to offer you my hand and my heart. If Laetitia will be my wife, Gladness will be mine forever.
                                                     Forgive, my love,
                                                     your most devoted humble servant,
                                                     Harry Talgarth.
     
    He did not understand. How could he understand? How could she tell him that marriage was what she feared?
    * * * *
    At first Catriona was quite pleased to see her daughter moping. Letty undoubtedly missed Sir Gideon. So did Catriona. One quickly became accustomed to having gentlemen about the house, she told herself.
    Then, one evening, returning to the drawing room with a book from the library, she found Letty in tears. Damp patches on the blue muslin she was embroidering showed where the drops that trickled down her cheeks had fallen.
    “My darling!” Without another word, Catriona took the sewing from her, sat down on the sofa beside her, and drew her into her arms. Just as when she was a child with some childish hurt, she sobbed on her mother’s shoulder. Just as when she was a child, Catriona ached for her grief.
    Gradually the sobs stilled. Letty fumbled for a handkerchief and Catriona pressed one into her hand.
    “Tell me.”
    “Oh, Mama, I am so unhappy!” Letty wailed. “He kissed me the night before he left for Town.”
    A cold shock took away Catriona’s breath. So Sir Gideon did love Letty.
    It was what she had hoped for. If she felt her heart had been riven in her breast, it was because she had not thought him so ungentlemanly as to force his attentions on Letty before