‘How can I tell him anything of the kind? I think you are being most unreasonable! Do but consider! If I said now that I had been mistaken in your name he would suppose you to have been trifling with me!’
‘But you cannot expect me to pretend to be in love with you!’ Pen said, aghast.
Lydia sniffed. ‘Nothing could be more repulsive to me than such a notion. I am already sorry that I mentioned you to Papa. Only Idid,and now I don’t know what to do. He would be so angry if he knew that I had made it all up!’
‘Well, I am very sorry, but it seems to me quite your own fault, and I wash my hands of it,’ said Pen.
She glanced at Miss Daubenay’s flower-like countenance, and made a discovery. Miss Daubenay’s soft chin had acquired a look of obstinacy; the fawn-like eyes stared back at her with a mixture of appeal and determination. ‘You can’t wash your hands of it. I told you that Papa was going to seek an interview with your cousin today.’
‘You must stop him.’
‘I can’t. You don’t know Papa!’
‘No, and I don’t want to know him,’ Pen pointed out.
‘If I told him it had all been lies, I do not know what he might not do. I won’t do it! I don’t care what you may say: Iwon’t!’
‘Well, I shall deny every word of your story.’
‘Then,’ said Lydia, not without triumph, ‘Papa will do something dreadful to you, because he will think it is you who are telling lies!’
‘It seems to me that unless he is a great fool he must know you well enough by now to guess that it isyouwho have told lies!’ said Pen, with asperity.
‘It’s no use being disagreeable and rude,’ said Lydia. ‘Papa thinks you followed me to Queen Charlton.’
‘You mean you told him so,’ said Pen bitterly.
‘Yes, I did. At least, he asked me, and I said yes before I had had time to think.’
‘Really, you are the most brainless creature! Do youneverthink?’ said Pen, quite exasperated. ‘Just look what a coil you’ve created! Either your Papa is coming to ask me what my intentions are, or – which I think a great deal more likely – to complain to Richard about my conduct! Oh dear, whatever will Richard say to this fresh disturbance?’
It was plain that all this meant nothing to Miss Daubenay. For form’s sake, she repeated that she was very sorry, but added: ‘I hoped you would be able to help me. But you are a boy! You don’t understand what it means to be persecuted as I am!’
This remark could not but strike a chord of sympathy. ‘As a matter of fact, I do know,’ said Pen. ‘Only, if helping you means offering for your hand, I won’t do it. The more I think of it, the more ridiculous it seems to me that you should have dragged me into it. How could such an absurd tale possibly be of use?’
Lydia sighed. ‘One does not think of those things in the heat of the moment. Besides, I didn’t really mean to drag you in. It – it just happened.’
‘I don’t see how it could have happened if you didn’t mean it.’
‘One thing led to another,’ Lydia explained vaguely. ‘Almost before I knew it, the whole story had – had grown up. Of course I don’t wish you to offer for my hand, but I do think you might pretend you want to, so that Papa shan’t suspect me of telling lies.’
‘No!’ said Pen.
‘I think you are very unkind,’ whimpered Lydia. ‘I shall be sent back to Bath, and Great-Aunt Augusta will spy on me, and I shall never see Piers again!’
‘Who?’ Pen’s head was jerked round. ‘Whowill you never see again?’
‘Oh, please do not ask me! I did not mean to mention his name!’
‘Are you –’ Pen stopped, rather white of face, and started again: ‘Are you betrothed to Piers Luttrell?’
‘You know him!’ Miss Daubenay clasped ecstatic hands.
‘Yes,’ said Pen, feeling as though the pit of her stomach had suddenly vanished. ‘Yes, I know him.’
‘Then you will help me!’
Miss Creed’s clear blue eyes met Miss Daubenay’s swimming brown ones. Miss Creed drew a long breath. ‘Is – is Piers indeed in love with you?’ she asked incredulously.
