After a stunned moment, he began to laugh. In this she readily joined him, but when he had recovered from the first absurdity of the notion, he said: ‘I might have known there was devilry afoot when I saw that your faithful Potton was absent! But what is this, Sophy? Why am I kidnapped? To what end?’
‘So that I may be so compromised that you will be obliged to marry me, of course,’ replied Sophy matter-of-factly.
This cheerful explanation had the effect of making him start bolt upright, exclaiming: ‘Sophy!’
She smiled. ‘Oh, don’t be alarmed! I have sent John Potton with a letter to Sancia begging her to come to Lacy Manor at once.’
‘Good God, do you place any dependence upon her doing so?’
‘Oh, yes, certainly! She has a very kind heart, you know, and would never fail me when I particularly desired her help.’
He relaxed against the squabs again, but said: ‘I don’t know what you deserve! I am still quite in a puzzle: why have you done it?’
‘Why, don’t you see? I have left behind me a letter for Cecilia, telling her that I am about to sacrifice myself –’
‘Thank you!’ interjected his lordship.
‘–andyou,’ continued Sophy serenely, ‘so that my uncle may be silenced at last. You know, for I told you so, that I persuadedhim to announce to poor Cecy his unalterable decision that she was to wed you! If I know Cecy, the shock will bring her post-haste to Ashtead, to rescue the pair of us. If, my dear Charlbury, you cannot help yourself in that eventuality, I wash my hands of you!’
‘I can find it in me to wish you had done so long since!’ was his ungrateful response. ‘Outrageous, Sophy,outrageous!And what if neither she nor the Marquesa comes to Lacy Manor? Let me tell you that nothing will serve to induce me to compromise you!’
‘No, indeed! I should dislike it excessively. Ifthathappened, I fear you will be obliged to spend the night at Leatherhead. It is not very far from Lacy Manor, and I believe you may be tolerably comfortable at the Swan. Or you might hire a chaise to carry you back to London. But Sancia at least will not fail.’
‘Have you told Cecilia that you havekidnappedme?’ he demanded. She nodded, and he exclaimed: ‘I could murder you! What a trick to play! And what a figure I must cut!’
‘She won’t think of that. Do you recall that I told you only the other day that she must be made to pity you instead of Augustus? Besides that, I am persuaded she will suffer perfect torments of jealousy. Only fancy! I was quite at a stand until I remembered what I had once heard pronounced by a most distinguished soldier! “Surprise is the essence of attack!” The most fortunate circumstance!’
‘Was it not?’ he said sarcastically. ‘I have a very good mind to get down at the next pike!’
‘You will ruin all if you do.’
‘It isabominable, Sophy!’
‘Yes, if the motive were not pure!’
He said nothing, and she too remained silent for several minutes. At last, having turned it over in his mind, he said: ‘You had better tell me the whole. That I have only heard half I have no doubt at all! Where does Charles Rivenhall stand in all this?’
She folded her hands on Tina’s back. ‘Alas! I have quarrelled so dreadfully with Charles that I am obliged to seek refuge at Lacy Manor!’ she said mournfully.
‘And have doubtless left a note behind you to inform him of this!’
‘Of course!’
‘I foresee a happy meeting!’ he commented bitterly.
‘That,’ she acknowledged, ‘was the difficulty! But I think I can overcome it. I promise you, Charlbury, you shall come out of this with a whole skin – well, no, perhaps not quite that, but very nearly!’
‘You do not know how much you relieve my mind! I daresay I may not be a match for Rivenhall, either with pistols or with my fists, but give me credit for not being quite so great a poltroon as to fear a meeting with him!’
‘I do,’ she assured him. ‘But it can serve no good purpose for Charles tomill you down– have I that correctly?’
‘Quite correctly!’
‘– or to put a bullet through you,’ she ended, her serenity unshaken.
He was obliged to laugh. ‘I see that Rivenhall is more to be pitied than I am! Why did you quarrel with him?’
‘I had to make an excuse for flying from Berkeley Square! You must perceive that! I could not think of nothing else to do but to take out that young chestnut he has bought lately. A beautiful creature! Such grand, sloping shoulders! Such an action! But quite unbroke to London traffic, and by far too strong for any female to hold!’
