jor Knighton all day to try and get hold of you； but he couldn't say for sure when you were expected back。〃
Ruth Kettering was twenty…eight years of age。 Without being beautiful； or in the real sense of the word even pretty； she was striking looking because of her colouring。 Van Aldin had been called Carrots and Ginger in his time； and Ruth's hair was almost pure auburn。 With it went dark eyes and very black lashes … the effect somewhat enhanced by art。 She was tall and slender； and moved well。 At a careless glance it was the face of a Raphael Madonna。 Only if one looked closely did one perceive the same line of jaw and chin as in Van Aldin's face； bespeaking the same hardness and determination。 It suited the man； but suited the woman less well。 From her childhood upward Ruth Van Aldin had been accustomed to having her own way； and anyone who had ever stood up against her soon realized that Rufus Van Aldin's daughter never gave in。
〃Knighton told me you'd phoned him；〃 said Van Aldin。 〃I only got back from Paris half an hour ago。 What's all this about Derek？〃
Ruth Kettering flushed angrily。
〃It's unspeakable。 It's beyond all limits；〃 she cried。 〃He … he doesn't seem to listen to anything I say。〃
There was bewilderment as well as anger in her voice。
〃He'll listen to me；〃 said the millionaire grimly。
Ruth went on。
〃I've hardly seen him for the last month。 He goes about everywhere with that woman。〃
〃With what woman？〃