‘So I perceive!’ he retorted, advancing into the room. ‘Perhaps, my dear Eugenia, you would like to explain to me what the devil you mean by this?’
She replied instantly, her colour heightened: ‘Thanks to your sister’s inhumanity – I can call it nothing else! – in refusing to permit me to offer a seat to Lord Bromford in the chaise, he has taken a shocking chill, which I only pray may not have a lasting effect upon his constitution!’
‘I never credited Cecilia with so much good sense! If she had had enough to prevent her, and you, from setting forth upon an expedition which was as needless as it was meddlesome, I should be even more grateful! You have for once in your life been thoroughly at fault, Eugenia! Let it be a lesson to you to be a little less busy in future!’
Those best acquainted with Mr Rivenhall’s powers of self-expression would have considered this speech a very mild reproof. Miss Wraxton, in whose presence he had hitherto most meticulously guarded his tongue, could scarcely believe her ears. ‘Charles!’ she uttered, outraged.
‘Did you imagine that you would make me believe ill of Sophy with your foolish and spiteful letter!’ he demanded. ‘You have tried to set me against her from the outset, but you over-reached yourself today, my girl! How dared you write in such terms to me! How could you have been so crassly stupid as to suppose that Sophy could ever needyourcountenance to set her right in the eyes of the world, or that I would believe one word of slander against her?’
‘Sir!’ said Lord Bromford, with as much dignity as could be expected of a man with both feet in a mustard-bath. ‘You shall answer to me for those words!’
‘Certainly! When and where you please!’ replied Mr Rivenhall, with alarming promptitude.
‘I beg you will not heed him, Lord Bromford!’ cried Miss Wraxton, much agitated. ‘He is beside himself! If a meeting were to take place between you onmyaccount I could never hold up my head again! Pray be calm! I am sure your pulse istumultuous, and how shall I ever face dear Lady Bromford?’
He clasped her restraining hand, and held it, saying a moved voice: ‘Too good, too excellent creature! With all your attainments, your scholarship, still to retain those attributes peculiar to your womanhood –! I cannot but think of the poet’s lines –’
‘Take care,’ interpolated Mr Rivenhall disagreeably. ‘You thought of them in connection with my cousin, and it won’t do to repeat yourself!’
‘Sir!’ said Lord Bromford, glaring at him. ‘I was about to say that Miss Wraxton has shown herself in very sooth –’
‘A ministering angel! So I knew! Try for another poet!’
‘I must request you, sir,’ said Miss Wraxton icily, ‘to leave this room immediately – and to take that horrid little dog of Miss Stanton-Lacy’s with you! I can only be thankful that my eyes have been opened to your true character before it was too late! You will oblige me by sending an announcement to the Gazette that our engagement is at an end!’
‘It shall be done at once,’ said Mr Rivenhall, bowing. ‘Pray accept my profound regrets, and my earnest wishes for your future happiness, ma’am!’
‘Thank you! If I cannot felicitate you upon the contract you are no doubt about to enter into, at least I can pray that you may not be too sadly disappointed in the character of the lady you mean to marry!’ said Miss Wraxton, a spot of colour burning in either cheek.
‘No, I don’t think I shall be disappointed,’ said Mr Rivenhall, with a sudden and rueful grin. ‘Shocked, maddened, and stunned perhaps, but not disappointed! Come, Tina!’
Descending again to the hall, he found Sophy seated on the floor beside the ducklings’ box, preventing their attempts to escape. Without looking up, she said: ‘Sir Vincent has found several bottles of excellent burgundy in the cellar, and Sancia says we shall not be obliged to eat the pig’s cheek after all.’ ‘Talgarth?’ exclaimed Mr Rivenhall, bristling with hostility. ‘What the devil brings him here?’
‘He came with Sancia. It is the most shocking thing, Charles,and how I am to face Sir Horace I don’t know! He hasmarriedSancia! I cannot think what is to be done!’
‘Nothing at all: your father will be delighted! I forgot to inform you, my dear cousin, that he arrived in town sometime before I left, and is even now in Berkeley Square, awaiting your return. He appeared to feel no small degree of annoyance at learning of your efforts to save the Marquesa from Talgarth.’
‘Sir Horace in London?’ Sophy exclaimed, her face lighting up. ‘Oh, Charles, and I not there to welcome him! Why did you not tell me at once?’
‘I had other things to think of. Get up!’
She allowed him to pull her to her feet, but said: ‘Charles, are you freed from your engagement?’
‘I am,’ he replied. ‘Miss Wraxton has terminated our engagement.’
‘And Cecy has terminated hers to Augustus, so now I can –’
‘Sophy, I don’t pretend to know why she should have done so, any more than I understand why you keep a brood of ducklings in the house, but neither of these problems interests me very particularly at this present! I have something more important to say to you!’
‘Of course!’ said Sophy. ‘Your horse! Well, indeed, Charles, I am very sorry to have displeased you so much!’
‘No!’ said Mr Rivenhall, grasping her shoulders, and giving her a shake. ‘You know – Sophy, youknowI could not mean – You did not run away from London because ofthat?’
‘But, Charles, naturally I did! I had to have some excuse! You must perceive that I had to!’
‘Devil!’ said Mr Rivenhall, and caught her into so crushing an embrace that she protested, and Tina danced round them, barking excitedly. ‘Quiet!’ commanded Mr Rivenhall. He took Sophy’s throat between his hands, pushing up her chin. ‘Will you marry me, vile and abominable girl that you are?’
‘Yes, but, mind, it is only to save my neck from being wrung!’ Sophy replied.
