Having offered Miss Forester his support, he meant to make good his word. Not that the little thing was unable to stand up for herself, he reflected, with a gleam of humour. She had been taken by surprise—as, indeed, had they all. Now that she was warned he rather suspected that she would give a good account of herself, though she would be sorely handicapped by her position as a guest in her cousin’s home.In one particular, however, he still mis-read the situation. He assumed, as he had done from the start, that Alethea was a poor relation being sponsored into society by her wealthy aunt. Tina’s remarks had seemed to confirm this belief, even though there had been nothing poverty pinched about the girl’s appearance last night, he reflected, as he trod up the steps of the Newton town house and set the bell pealing.He had timed his arrival with care. As he had expected, he was told that Mrs. Newton was not at home. Probably still fast asleep, he translated, and who should blame her?
