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.There were also four nos.comprising two couples who would be abroad, an elderly uncle who was suffering from advanced diabetes and another whose daughter had been foolish enough to select the same day as Daphne on which to be married.Having ticked and crossed their names off the master list, Daphne turned her attention to the five remaining letters.One turned out to be from her eighty-seven-year old Aunt Agatha, who resided in Cumberland and had some time previously stated that she would not be attending the wedding as she felt the journey to London might prove too much of a strain.However, Aunt Agatha went on to suggest that perhaps Daphne should bring Percy up north to visit her just as soon as they returned from their honeymoon, as she wished to make his acquaintance."Certainly not," said Daphne out loud."Once I am back in England I shall have far more important things to worry myself with than aging aunts." She then read the P.S.:And while you are in Cumberland, my darling, it will be a good opportunity for you to advise me on my will, because I'm not sure which of the pictures to give to whom, especially the Laueletts, which I do feel deserves a good home.Wicked old lady, thought Daphne, well aware that Aunt Agatha wrote an identical P.S.to every one of her relations, however distant, thus guaranteeing that she rarely spent a weekend alone.The second letter was from Michael Fishlock and Company, the catering specialists, who enclosed an estimam for supplying tea to five hundred guests in Vincent Square immediately preceding the wedding.Three hundred guineas seemed an outrageous sum to Daphne, but without a second thought she placed the estimate on one side, to be dealt with by her father at some later date.Two other letters addressed to her mother that were from friends and no concern of Daphne's were also placed on one side.The fifth letter she saved until last, because the envelope was enriched by the most colorful stamps, the King's crown set in an oval on the right-hand corner above the words "Ten Annas."She slit the envelope open slowly and extracted several sheets of heavy notepaper, the first of which was embossed with the crest and legend of the Royal Fusiliers."Dear Daphne," the letter began.She hurriedly turned to the last page in order to check the signature, which lead, "Your friend, as always, Guy."Returning to the first page, she glanced at the address before beginning to read Guy's words with apprehension.Officers' Mess 2nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers Wellington Barracks 15 May 1921Dear Daphne,I hope you will forgive me for presuming on our long family friendship, but a problem has arisen of which I am sure you are only too aware, and unfortunately I now find that I must turn to you for help and guidance.Some time ago, I received a letter from your friend Rebecca SalmonDaphne placed the unread pages back on her dressing-table, wishing that the letter had arrived a few days after she had set out on her honeymoon rather than before.She fiddled around with the guest list for some time, but realized she would eventually have to find our what Guy expected of her.She returned to his letter.informing me that she was pregnant and that I was the father of her child.Let me assure you from the outset that nothing could be further from the truth, as on the only occasion I remained overnight in your flat, Rebecca and I had no physical contact.As a matter of record, it was she who insisted we had diner together at 97 Chelsea Terrace that evening, despite the fact that I had already booked a table for us at the Ritz.As the evening progressed, it became obvious that she was trying to get me drunk, and indeed when I thought to leave, I confess I did feel a little queasy, and wasn't certain that I would be able to make the journey safely back to my barracks.Rebecca immediately suggested that I remain overnight in order to "sleep it off".I use her exact words.Naturally I refused, until she pointed out that I could stay in your room as you were not expected to return from the country until the following afternoon--a fact which you late confirmed.Indeed, I took up Rebecca's kind offer, and on retiring to bed, quickly fell into a deep sleep only to be awoken later by the banging of a door.To my horror I awoke to find you standing there in front of me.I was even more shocked to discover that Rebecca, quite unbeknown to me, had crept into bed beside me.You were naturally embarrassed and left immediately, without uttering another word.I rose, dressed and returned to my barracks, arriving back in my own room by one-fifteen, at the latest.On arriving at Waterloo Station later in the morning to begin my journey to India I was, as you can imagine, somewhat surprised to find Rebecca waiting for me on the platform.I spend only a few moments with her but left her in no doubt as to how I felt about the trick she had played on me the previous evening.I then shook her by the hand and boarded the boat train for Southampton, never for one moment expecting to hear from her again.The next contact I had with Miss Salmon came a few months later when I received this unwarranted scurrilous letter, which brings me to the reason why I now need your assistance.Daphne turned the page and stopped to look at herself in the mirror.She had no desire to find out what Guy expected of her.He had even forgotten in whose room he had been discovered.Yet it was only seconds before her eyes returned to the top of the next page and she began reading again.No further action would have proved necessary had it not been for the fact that Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Danvers Hamilton took it upon himself to drop a note to my new Commanding Officer, Colonel Forbes, informing him of Miss Salmon's version of the story, which resulted in my being called upon to defend myself in front of a special enquiry made up of my brother officers
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