Anna the Adventuress by E. Phillips Oppenheim

Lady Ferringhall made room for him on the sofa by her side. She was wearing a becoming tea-gown, and it was quite certain that Sir John would not be home for several hours at least.

"I am delighted to see you, Mr. Ennison," she said, letting her fingers rest in his. "Do come and cheer me up. I am bored to distraction."

He took a seat by her side. He was looking pale and ill. There were shadows under his eyes. He returned her impressive greeting almost mechanically.

"But you yourself," she exclaimed, glancing into his face, "you too look tired. You poor man, what have you been doing to yourself?"

"Nothing except travelling all night," he answered. "I am just back from Paris. I am bothered. I have come to you for sympathy, perhaps for help."

"You may be sure of the one," she murmured. "The other too if it is within my power."

"It is within yours -- if anybody's," he answered. "It is about your sister, Lady Ferringhall."

Annabel gave a little gasp. The colour slowly left her cheeks, the lines of her mouth hardened. The change in her face was not a pleasant one.

"About my sister," she repeated slowly.

Her tone should have warned him, but he was too much in earnest to regard it.

"Yes. You remember that you saw us at the Savoy a few evenings ago?"

"Yes."

"And you knew, of course, that we were old friends?"

"Indeed!"

"Lady Ferringhall, I love your sister."

"You what? " she repeated incredulously.

"I love your sister."

Lady Ferringhall sat with half closed eyes and clenched teeth. Brute! Fool! To have come to her on such an errand. She felt a hysterical desire to strike him, to burst out crying, to blurt out the whole miserable truth. The effort to maintain her self-control was almost superhuman.

"But -- your people! " she gasped. "Surely Lady Ennison would object, even if it were possible. And the Duke, too -- I heard him say that a married secretary would be worse than useless to him."

"The difficulties on my own side I can deal with," he answered. "I am not dependent upon any one. I have plenty of money, and the Duke will not be in the next Cabinet. My trouble is with your sister."