“A chaperon. Are you concealing one somewhere?”
The derisive note was not lost on Apple. She bridled. “Of course not. I shall hire one.”
A look of foreboding entered his face. “Just what are you planning, young Apple?”
Almost she told him. Just in time, she remembered how difficult Alex could be. It was none of his concern, of course, but that would not stop him from interfering. She bypassed the question.
“If Mr Vergette means to tell me everything after my birthday, there’s no need for me to come with you to Dymond Garth. Can we not revert to your notion of leaving me with Mrs Reddicliffe? I know we left her at home today, but it would not take you far out of your way.”
He snorted. “And have you running off the Lord knows where the moment I’m out of sight?”
“I won’t run off! I’ve no reason to.”
“No, not until you get some hare-brained idea into your head which must be carried through on the instant.”
“Why should I do so? I’ve no reason to do anything until my birthday.”
“No use asking me why you should, because I don’t know what goes on in that excuse you have for a mind, but I know you will if you get half a chance.”
Fuming, Apple glared at him. “I don’t understand you at all, Alex. What has it to do with you anyhow? And don’t say it’s because you’ve taken responsibility for me, because it’s ridiculous.”
“No, it ain’t. Vergette asked me to bring you to him, and that’s what I’m going to do.”
“Well, you can do so just as well if I’m with Mrs Reddicliffe.”
“No, I can’t. Can’t do anything if you ain’t there, which is what will happen sure as check.”
“Alex, I keep telling you —”
“Enough!” He rose from the chair, looking down at her over the intimidating nose. “Not going through this argument all over again. It’s pointless. Besides, you’ve put the fear of God into me with this nonsense about a chaperon. Lord knows what the deuce sort of scheme you’ve cooked up, but one thing I do know. I won’t like it.”
Apple leapt to her feet, squaring up to him. “I don’t care if you like it or not, it’s got nothing to do with you. And you needn’t think you can plague my life out to tell you, because I won’t!”
“Don’t worry, I’ve no wish to hear it. Only drive me up the wall and I’ve got enough on my hands as it is.”
Incensed beyond measure, Apple flounced across the room to the door. She turned there, her fingers already around the handle. “It’ll serve you right if I do run away!”
Alex was still standing by the fireplace, but at this he strode forward, holding up a finger. “Warned you about that before. I’ll find you, and when I do…”
Apple wrenched open the door and fled, torn between fury at his intransigence and a lively curiosity as to whether he would indeed follow her. Why he should be so adamant, Apple could not understand. But she did not dwell on it for long, the thought of her potential future reviving the bubble of excitement.
A fortune!Though what precisely did that mean? Not that it mattered. Anything that gave her an independence was a fortune in her eyes. It must surely be enough to allow her to embark upon the longed for adventure? Really, Alex supposed her to be the veriest ninnyhammer. Of course she knew she could not set off without a suitable companion. But that was easily resolved. She would advertise.
It was a pity Alex would not countenance her scheme — no use thinking he would because it was obvious he was far too conventional to approve — because she could have used his help in choosing a suitable female. No, the less he knew about it the better. Besides, once she was in possession of her trust — oh, Lord, let it be money! — she would become her own mistress and there was nothing in the world he could do to stop her.
A sneaking doubt crept in at this point. If he chose to, of course Alex would be able to stop her. She would be obliged to prevaricate and pretend to some sensible plan. She’d think of something that would satisfy him sufficiently for him to decide to leave her to her own devices.
Curiously, Apple found this prospect rather bleak. She could not wait to be free of his restraints, of course, but the notion of never seeing him again once her situation was settled was a little disheartening. Even though he was distinctly infuriating half the time.
At dinner, she eyed him warily, but Alex appeared to have recovered his temper and never once referred to their latest argument. He was a trifle stiff, but then Apple could not defend herself against a like accusation. It was left to Georgy to fill the breach. She prattled about the traditions of Christmas upheld at Dymond Garth and seemed oblivious to the prevailing atmosphere.
Prudence kept Apple from intervening when Georgy’s dilatory progress sent Alex up into the boughs again. She did not wish to draw his fire and waited as patiently as she could in the hall. Unfortunately, the delay served to revive her apprehensions and she mentally went over all the rules of etiquette she could remember from Miss Godfrey’s discourse.
But at last they were settled in the Luthrie coach, the Edginton chariot following behind with Nelly the maid minding Georgy’s mountain of baggage. There was no escape now. Apple’s nervousness increased with each passing mile.
Chapter Fifteen
To Alex’s profound relief, his arrival at Dymond Garth, unheralded and with his sister and her ‘friend’ in tow, turned out to be an anti-climax. Lady Luthrie was out, and there was no unusual bustle of the household as might have been expected this close to Christmas.
