“It is something which for your own sake, I should regret doing,” he answered. “Do you really believe that your mother and stepfather will take such an aversion to me?”
“Not to you personally,” Valda answered. “It would be impossible for them to do that. But they expect me to make what they think of as a – suitable marriage.”
“And a man without money is not suitable?”
“Only in their eyes,” Valda said desperately. “You and I know money is not important. It must never be important where we are concerned. Other people don’t think the same.”
“I can understand their feelings,” Roydon remarked. “You are very beautiful and already, although you are so young, there must be many men who would wish to marry you.”
“You know it is not like that in France,” Valda said. “Marriage is arranged becaus
