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merely being a good friend and helping matters along in chaperoning me.
    I was amused, for I saw no harm in it, to see that Evelyn was almost beside herself, in her quiet way, at the thought of her brother becoming involved with a girl and nearing marriage. No doubt she not only loved him jealously and possessively, but she realised her own future was at stake. A man’s duty was to his wife and future family before his sister, whatever sacrifices she had made for him in the past.
    But I thought she still believed she held considerable sway with Charles and that if he mentioned marriage, she would begin her relentless campaign to discourage it.
    She had now joined Lady Courtney and Millicent in their hatred of me. And hatred it was now, for there was no mistaking the viciousness in their remarks to me.
    They ridiculed my clothes, my hairstyle, my upbringing, even Uncle James, saying he was a weak character who had lived almost in poverty all his life, marrying Virginia Lloyd, a country girl with no birth or breeding. My mother, being her sister, was presumed to be in the same category and consequently, so was I. But they hardly ever referred directly to my mother or my father. Only by such remarks referring to Aunt Virginia, and to home-breakers and such, was I aware that they were really referring to Victoria Lloyd, my mother.
    And once I overheard Lady Courtney say to Millicent,
    â€˜We shall indeed be fortunate if Dr Corby will marry Louella for she has little to offer any man. You need have no fear of her as a rival for Bassett’s affections, I assure you, my dear Millicent. My son has more sense than to fall for a girl of her breeding, unlike his father.’
    Such remarks were unbearable at times, and looking back, I can hardly understand why I stood it all. I could easily have run away and found myself a post as a governess. But for some reason I stayed where I was.
    Probably I realised that if I crossed the Courtneys too much, I should never keep a governess’s post for long, for their power to make or break a person was undeniable.
    That evening after the dismal afternoon ride with Bassett, something happened which was to drive all other thoughts out of my head for some time.
    We were seated in the drawing-room after dinner, when the gentlemen joined us.
    â€˜We have just been telling Charles about the Courtney dagger, mother,’ said Bassett. ‘He is most interested to see it.’ He turned to Evelyn Corby.
    â€˜Millicent, I know, is well acquainted with its history Miss Corby, but perhaps you have not heard of our famous dagger?’
    â€˜Lady Courtney has related to me some of its history and the superstition surrounding it, yes, but I have yet to see it.’
    â€˜Then you shall,’ he turned to his father. ‘ Since Miss Corby desires to see it, we shall not trouble her to go to the gallery. Perhaps you would fetch the dagger, father?’
    â€˜Certainly, my boy, with pleasure.’ And Sir Hugh bustled off, proud to have the opportunity of showing off one of his treasures. In fact, the greatest treasure.
    Whilst he was gone, the talk centred on the dagger.
    â€˜Bassett, of course, being such a strong-minded young man,’ remarked Lady Courtney, the pride apparent in her tone when speaking of her beloved son, ‘does not whole-heartedly agree with the superstition. Miss Corby. He is too practical to believe in the dagger’s powers.’
    â€˜I am inclined to agree with him, I’m afraid, Lady Courtney. I cannot see that a jewelled dagger, however beautiful, can have the power to change men’s fortunes in the way you have told me. It seems to me that because they parted with the dagger, they brought about their own downfall in believing so strongly in it. They thought disaster inevitable, and so did nothing to prevent it.’
    â€˜Very true,’ said Bassett. ‘ Though the people who parted with the dagger cannot have believed the