His words had stung her to the quick.
"A coward ?" she repeated furiously.

"You dare to call Henry that ?" Lessingham rose abruptly to his feet.

He moved restlessly about the room.

His fists were clenched, his tone thick with passion.
"I do!" he pronounced.

"Philippa, look at this matter without prejudice.
Do you believe that there is a single man of any country, of your husband's age and rank, who would be content to trawl the seas for fish whilst his country's blood is being drained dry?
Who would weigh a codling," he added, pointing scornfully to the scales, "whilst the funeral march of heroes is beating throughout the world?
The thing is insensate, impossible!" Philippa's head drooped.