“Come here! Do you hear me? Come here immediately!”
He thought she was about to refuse him. Then, as if the command in his voice compelled her, she very slowly closed the door again and came towards the bed.
“Let me understand this quite clearly,” the Earl said. “You want fifty pounds, but you will not accept it from me?”
“You know I will not take money – unless I can give something in – return,” Giselda said fiercely.
The Earl was about to argue, but he knew it would be useless.
He was well aware that Giselda’s pride was so much a part of her whole character that, if he persisted in thrusting his money upon her, she was quite likely to walk out of his life and he would never see her again.
Diplomatically he played for time.
“Forgive me, Giselda, you took me by surprise. I understan
