“I personally have never given myself such airs and graces,” the Marquis said sharply.
Then, because he was afraid that his mother might be hurt, he turned round.
“I am sure that what you have done you thought was for the very best,” he said, “but it has come as a shock and you know that I have no wish to marry anyone!”
“I know, dearest,” the Dowager Marchioness replied, “but then Lady Maxwell is doing so much harm to your reputation that it is something that makes me very unhappy.”
“Harm?” the Marquis enquired. “What do you mean by harm?”
“Oh, dearest, she talks openly about you all the time and your aunt has told me that she is telling everyone how desperately and overwhelmingly in love she is with you.”
The Dowager Marchioness’s voice sharpened as she went on,
“No one with any se
