“I have already told your Ladyship that anything that has been said between us this past hour is now forgotten.”
There was no possibility of Beatrice misunderstanding him this time. For a moment she stared, her eyes darkened, her whole air of shrinking fragility appeared to vanish. Her body stiffened, became strong, wiry and virulent.
“You insolent barbarian!”
Despite the venom in her tones her voice broke on a sob. At that moment there came a knock on the door. Both Beatrice and the Duke turned their heads towards it, but before the Duke could speak, the door opened and Lord Niall stood there, his face contorted with rage, his eyes dark and blazing with an ugly, unbridled fury.
He said nothing, only stood in the doorway looking across the room at Beatrice, taking in every detail of he
