Perhaps that she had drunk too much and Bayford had taken advantage of her!
The Marquis could think of a dozen lies that she could tell.
Any means that she could think of to extricate herself from the predicament she was in and reinstate herself in his affections.
He was sure that she and Bayford were, at this very moment, fabricating some ‘c**k and bull’ story that they hoped he would believe.
‘I will not see them!’ the Marquis said determinedly to himself.
It was impossible to sleep, but he dozed a little just before dawn.
He rang for his valet soon after six o’clock and ordered his fastest travelling carriage and a fresh team of horses to be ready in an hour.
He was hurrying over his breakfast, when his secretary, Mr. Mason, came into the room.
“I have just heard, my Lord,” he b
