‘Yes, never mind that! What has occurred to make you leave so early?’
‘I came, ma’am, with one purpose only in mind. It has been rendered useless for me to stay by your cousin’s announcement a moment since that she is betrothed to young Fawnhope.’
‘What a goose she is!’ remarked Sophy cheerfully. ‘I saw her go apart with Augustus, and I saw Charles follow her. Depend upon it, this is all his doing! I could box his ears! Do you ever ride in the Park?’
‘Do Iwhat?’ he asked, bewildered.
‘Ride in the Park!’
‘Certainly I do, but –’
‘Then do so tomorrow morning! Not too early, for I daresay I shall not be in bed until four o’clock! At ten, then; don’t fail!’
She waited for no answer, but went back into the ballroom, leaving him to stare after her in considerable surprise. At any other time he would have smiled at her odd, abrupt ways, but he was a man in love, labouring under a crushing blow, and although he could maintain his calm manner it was at present beyond his power to feel any amusement.
TEN
IT WAS WITHno real expectation of meeting Sophy that Lord Charlbury had a horse saddled next morning, and betook himself to Hyde Park, for it seemed to him that a young lady who had danced the night through would not be very likely to be found riding in the Park by ten o’clock next day. But he had not cantered once round the Row when he saw a magnificent black horse coming towards him, and recognized Sophy on its back. He reined in, and pulled off his hat, exclaiming: ‘I made sure you would still be abed, and fast asleep! Are you made of iron, Miss Stanton-Lacy?’
She pulled Salamanca up, sidling and prancing. ‘Pooh!’ she said, laughing at him. ‘Did you think me such a poor creature as to be prostrated by one ball, sir?’
He turned his horse, and fell in beside her. John Potton followed at a discreet distance. Lord Charlbury complimented Sophy on Salamanca, but was cut short.
‘Very true, he is a superb horse, but we have not met to talk of horses.Sucha kick-up as there has been in Berkeley Square! Charles, of course – all Charles!’ The most diverting thing of all – do be diverted! indeed, there is no need for that grave face! – is that Augustus Fawnhope was quite as much taken aback as you or Charles!’
‘Are you telling me that he does notwishto marry Cecilia!’ demanded Charlbury.
‘Oh –! In some misty future! Certainly not immediately! Iexpect, you know, being a poet, he would much prefer to be the victim of a hopeless passion!’ said Sophy merrily.
‘Coxcomb!’
‘If you like. I danced one waltz with him last night, when you had left us, and I do think I was very helpful, for I suggested to him a number of genteel occupations of a gainful nature, and promised to look about me for some great man in need of a secretary.’
‘I hope he was grateful to you,’ said Charlbury heavily.
‘Not in the least! Augustus does not want to be any man’s secretary, for he has a soul quite above such mundane matters as acquiring a respectable competence. I showed him what his future would be, in the prettiest way imaginable! Love in a cottage, you know, and a dozen hopeful children prattling at his knee.’
‘You are a most unaccountable girl!’ he exclaimed, looking at her in a good deal of amusement. ‘Did this picture appal him?’
‘Of course it did, but he is very chivalrous, and has now made up his mind to an early marriage. For anything I know he may be planning a flight to the Border.
‘What!’ ejaculated his lordship.
‘Oh, have no fear! Cecilia is by far too well brought-up to consent to such a scandalous thing! Let us have just one gallop! I know it is wrong, but there seem to be only nursemaids in the Park this morning. Good God, I am quite at fault! There is Lord Bromford, on that fat cob of his! I must tell you that he left the ball at midnight, because late hours are injurious to his health. Now wemustgallop, or he will join us, and tell us about Jamaica!’
They flew down the track, Salamanca always just ahead of Charlbury’s rat-tailed gray, and so rousing Lord Charlbury to enthusiasm. ‘By God, that’s a capital horse!’ he said. ‘I do not know how you contrive to hold him, ma’am! Surely he is too strong for you?’
‘I daresay, but he has charming manners, you see. Now we will proceed more soberly! Should you object very much totelling me whether you still desire to marry my cousin? You may snub me, if you choose!’
He replied rather ruefully: ‘Will you think me contemptible if I tell you, yes?’
‘Not at all. You would be foolish to refine too much upon what happened last night. Only consider! Instead of first fixing your interest with Cecilia, you applied to my uncle for leave to address her –’
‘It is usual to do so!’ he pointed out.
‘It may be punctilious, but it is the greatest folly imaginable, particularly if you mean to contract mumps before you have even had time to offer for her!’
‘It would, I collect, be useless to assure you that I didnotmean to contract mumps! I had reason to believe that my suit would not be distasteful to her.’
