Just A Girl by Charles Garvice

Esmeralda passed into the drawing-room, and left Trafford standing behind the bank of ferns. He had entered the fernery almost immediately after she had done so, and had been going to speak to her, to tell her of his love once more, and to plead with her, when Norman had entered.

Trafford had intended to leave them at once, but something had prevented him--a vague feeling of coming evil, and he had remained--remained to witness the interview. He could only hear a word now and again, but he had seen Norman's agitation, had seen him kiss Esmeralda. It was the faint groan that had burst from Trafford's lips which Esmeralda had heard. What he had seen had seemed to him irrefutable evidence of her guilt.