Although he cannot see the lady's face and does not know who she is, he is charmed by her lovely laughter and intrigued by her insights into the injustice of a legal system which would condemn a woman for behavior that is perfectly acceptable for a man. As the two carriages draw apart, Dunstan knows only that the woman whose voice so appealed to him is named Melody, that her companion is Blanche, and that perhaps they are off to Tunbridge Wells. Dunstan's first reaction is to conclude that Melody must be like all women, faithless and inconstant. Then, he gets a glimpse behind her heavy veil and sees her battered face. He realizes that Melody is more sinned against than sinning and pursues the acquaintance.
Acquaintance becomes friendship, friendship becomes affection, and affection becomes love.
Fairchild has created both a hero and a heroine who need healing. Melody's hurts are much deeper. She had believed in Burke Bainbridge's protestations of love, only to find that he had married her for her fortune and to discover that he would readily use his fists to impose his will on his wife. But unlike most women, Melody refused to remain a victim and had taken the almost unprecedented step of suing for divorce. The growing relationship between Dunstan and Melody is developed with a fine hand.