"You do not have to," Roger replied. "She is not unlike you in size, Georgie, but no match for you in looks or breeding. You need not be afraid that Ralph will become attached to her."
"I am not at all afraid of any such thing," she said. "He will never even see her."
"Oh, he has already done so," Roger said. "Did he not tell you that he attended the opera with me last night?"
"Roger," she said with ominous calm, "has this affair already begun? Is that what this insane conversation is all about?"
"Oh, by no means," Roger said. "He has seen her on the stage, you will understand, but he has not met her."
"You are to see to it that he never does meet her," Georgiana said. "Or any other...female. Do you understand me, Roger? If Ralph is ever unfaithful to me, I shall hold you personally responsible."
He laughed and patted her hand again. "This begins to look more and more interesting," he said. "You know, Georgie, I think you are a fair way to being in love with my young cousin."
"Nonsense," she said. "But Ralph is a sweet innocent. He needs to be protected from the world of mistresses and ladybirds. He would not know how to cope."
Roger roared with laughter again. "And you know everything there is to know about that world," he said. "Georgie! You are a veritable delight. I could almost find it in me to envy Ralph, I wonder if he will ever learn to cope with you."
"Hush," she said, "and pray do behave in a more seemly fashion. We are approaching my father's house and must already be visible from the windows."
"I am all gentlemanly decorum, ma'am," he said.
"Will you be leaving me at the door?" she asked.
"Oh, by no means," he assured her. "After walking all this great distance with you, my dear Lady Chartleigh, I shall at least come inside and pay my compliments to Miss Burton. She was gracious enough to dance with me the other evening."
Vera did not seem at all pleased with the courtesy he paid her. She was sitting in the green salon with her mother, having just bidden farewell to some other visitors. She rose and curtsied low to Lord Beauchamp, but her lips tightened and she did not raise her eyes. She sat down and picked up some embroidery.
"I walked over to see if you cared for a stroll in the park, Vera," Georgiana said. "I have not been out yesterday or today up until now and was beginning to feel as if my feet were about to send down roots. Lord Beauchamp arrived as I was about to leave and kindly offered to escort me here."
"How kind of you, sir," the viscountess said graciously, having just been presented to Roger. "Will you take tea?"
"Perhaps one cup, ma 'am," he said, "before I retrace my steps and retrieve my horse from Middleton House. What delicate stitches you do, Miss Burton. It never ceases to amaze me how you ladies find the patience to produce such beauty and to cultivate personal charms and loveliness at the same time." He crossed the room to seat himself beside Vera.
"Mama," Georgiana said, taking a chair adjacent to her mothers' after carrying the cup into which the viscountess had poured tea across to Roger, "have you received an invitation to Mrs. Hoby's soiree next week? Ours came this morning, but I do not know if we are to accept it. I have not seen Ralph yet today."
"Perhaps it is because most of us do not waste our time in such idle pursuits as visiting clubs and playing cards and going to the races, sir," Vera replied, not looking up from her work.
"Ah," Roger said. "I had not thought of that. If I gave up such wild pursuits, ma 'am, would you undertake to teach me skill with a needle?"
Vera looked up in astonishment, her face relaxing unwillingly into a grin of pure amusement. "What an absurd idea," she said. "You make fun of me, sir."
"On the contrary," he said, his eyes fixed on her face. "I am trying my best to be agreeable since you appeared not to enjoy my conversation a few evenings ago."
"I wish you would leave Georgiana alone," she said very quietly. Her mother and her sister were engaged in talking to each other.
"You think I should have stood on the steps of Middleton House a half-hour ago and waved my handkerchief in farewell while she set off on her lone walk here?" he asked, eyebrows raised.
She looked up in some annoyance. "Do you make a joke of everything, sir?" she asked. "I think you know very well what I mean."
"You must have a sorry opinion of your sister," he said.
"I am extremely fond of Georgie," she said indignantly. "But she is very young and impulsive and has had a tendency to get herself into innocent scrapes. I am afraid that she may be no match for a man like you."
"A man like me," he said. "And what is a man like me, pray, Miss Burton?"
"It is quite clear that you are unprincipled where ladies are concerned," she said firmly. "But you might at least confine your gallantries to someone who knows how to handle your advances."
"Ah," he said. "The voice of experience, I perceive. Are you applying for the position, ma 'am ?"
