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Blackburn, but there’s nothing like a good glass of scotch.” He smiled toward John, who was nodding in agreement.
    They chatted a moment about the differences in their preferences of drink, each loyally sticking by their choice. Then Phillip’s smile faded and John knew it had come to the crucial point of this meeting.
    “Lord Blackburn, I wish to speak to you about my daughter. I’m sure you already figured that out.” Phillip tipped more scotch into his mouth.
    John sipped some brandy. “Yes sir.”
    “I’m not sure of your intentions toward Melissa, but I pray they are sincere?”
    Phillip gave John a warning glance if ever he saw one. John cleared his throat. “Mr. Howard, I offered your daughter a ride home, being I live a short distance from you. I haven’t any designs regarding your daughter.”
    Phillip stayed silent as if digesting John’s words. “Lord Blackburn, something must have happened to lend offering her a ride home?”
    John was feeling cornered. He needed to explain the truth. “Mr. Howard, the truth is . . .”
    “The truth is, father, that Lord Blackburn is the victim here.” Both men swung their view in Melissa’s direction. John’s mouth was on the verge of falling open and her father’s eyes widened in surprise. She stepped in closer, standing before them. “Yes, you see, I was simply minding my own business, staying on the outskirts of the racetrack watching the races, when out of nowhere this man appeared behind me.” John sat frozen, awaiting the remainder of the story, and her father listened with unwavering enthusiasm. “Well he startled me of course, then seemed sincere when he suggested I observe his rapid stallion.” John’s eyes enlarged at her description. Phillip’s brows narrowed in concentration. “I thought nothing of it at first. You know I love horses, so I proceeded to follow him when I realized he was taking me behind a set of changing sheds.” John swallowed hard. “I’m quite embarrassed to admit that it took me so long to figure out what type of stallion he wanted me to see.” She chuckled in the awkward silence. John’s eyes shut, flabbergasted by her choice of words.
    Phillip became appalled. “Melissa, watch your tongue!”
    “I’m sorry, but father I wasn’t sure how else to explain, which leads me to Lord Blackburn. Naturally I ran away from the awful man but I wasn’t sure if he would follow me. Well, I became disoriented by the time I reached the front gates so I hid in the nearest carriage, which happened to be Lord Blackburn’s.” By now Melissa received the evil eye from John and a stunned, unbelievable expression from her father. “To arrive at my point, I explained to Lord Blackburn what had happened and he was nice enough to find Thunder and escort me home.” She finished with the most sincere smile on her face as she ignored John’s scowl and waited with impatience for her father’s response.
    It took extreme effort for John not to intercede. Ironically he sat there absorbing every last detail of a story she concocted in a matter of minutes. Incredible, he thought. Here he wanted to be straight with her father and she came in telling a story of half-truths, for whatever reason making an effort to save his hide. Even though he hadn’t done anything for Mr. Howard to be alarmed about, there still existed the business agreement he and Melissa dared to venture. How would that issue be brought up now that her father had this other to deal with? Perhaps I should leave that up to Melissa, the great storyteller, he thought.
    John looked from Melissa, who appeared calm and collected, to her father, who without any doubt bought her story. He would have fallen for it himself if he hadn’t been there to witness the truth.
    Phillip caught John’s glance upon him and softness conquered his troubled features. “I owe you an apology Lord Blackburn.”
    John’s eyes flashed to Melissa before responding. “Not at all sir. It’s quite