While this exchange had been going on, I had also gotten out of the motorcar, and was standing there unnoticed in the background as the scene played out. I knew it would be wiser to stay silent, but when I heard him say those words something inside me snapped. I stalked up to him. “That is a cruel and wicked thing to say. You have a son who loves you, who has done nothing to warrant the way you have treated him. He came rushing to your side the moment he heard of your predicament, and what’s more he had to leave something that was really important to him. But he didn’t hesitate for a second, even though he said you wouldn’t welcome him.”

Lord Kilhenny’s gaze moved from me to Darcy and back again. “A friend from London, eh?” There was almost the hint of a smile. “Didn’t fool me for a second. You were the thing that was important to him, weren’t you?”

Darcy stepped to my side. “That’s right, Father. Before this we were actually on our way to be married. Afterward I realized we could no longer marry; I didn’t want her to suffer through being associated with me. I tried to end all contact with her. But she wouldn’t listen. She came here anyway. That’s what people do when they care about each other.”

There was a long silence, then Lord Kilhenny said gruffly, “You’d better come inside. We’re all getting soaked standing here.”

He led the way back to the lodge. It was a gloomy little place, dark with low ceilings and heavy dark furniture. I could easily see how a person could become depressed living alone there.

“I’ll make us some tea,” Darcy said. “Unless Mrs. McNalley is around?”

“I sent her home and told her to stay away from here for the time being,” Lord Kilhenny said. “I don’t want her bothered by those bloody pressmen every time she sets foot outside the door.”

“I can make the tea,” I said. “I’m good at it.”

“A young lady of many talents,” Lord Kilhenny said. “I suppose you’d better introduce us properly, Darcy.”

“Father, this is Georgiana Rannoch,” Darcy said. “Georgie, may I present my father, Lord Kilhenny.”

If the situation hadn’t been so deadly serious I think we would have laughed. Being presented with great formality to a man I hoped would be my future father-in-law in a poky little living room with a smoky fire was just too absurd.

“Rannoch?” he said. “Daughter of the duke?”

I nodded.

“You and Darcy make a good pair. Your father was as useless as I have been.”