‘More like a hundred! Am I never to learn your name? I shall, you know, whether you tell me or no!’
‘Without the least difficulty! I am very much better known in this country than you, for I’m a Lanyon of Undershaw!’
‘Impressive! Undershaw? Oh, yes! your land marches with mine, doesn’t it? Are you in the habit of walking abroad quite unattended, Miss Lanyon?’
‘Yes – except, of course, when I have had warning that you are at the Priory!’
‘Spiteful little cat!’ he said appreciatively. ‘How the devil was I to recognise Miss Lanyon of Undershaw in a crumpled gown and a sunbonnet, and without even the chaperonage of her maid?’
‘Oh, am I to understand, then, that if you had known my quality you wouldn’t have molested me? How chivalrous!’
‘No, no, I’m not chivalrous!’ he said, mocking her. ‘Thepresence of your maid would have checkmated me, not your quality.I’mnot complaining, but I wonder at such a little beauty’s venturing to roam about the country alone. Or don’t you know how beautiful you are?’
‘Yes,’ replied Venetia, taking the wind out of his sails. ‘Item, two lips, indifferent red–’
‘Oh, no, you’re quite out, and have gone to the wrong poet besides!They look like rosebuds filled with snow!’
‘Is that fromCherry-ripe?’ she demanded. He nodded, much entertained by her suddenly intent look. Her eyes sparkled with triumph; she uttered a tiny gurgle of laughter; and retorted: ‘Then I know what comes next!Yet them no peer nor prince can buy, Till Cherry-ripethemselvesdo cry! So letthatbe a lesson to you to take care what poetsyouchoose!’
‘But you’re enchanting!’ he exclaimed.
She put out her hands quickly, to hold him off. ‘No!’
He caught her wrists, and swept them behind her, clipping them in the small of her back, and so holding her chest to chest. Her heart beat fast; she felt breathless, but not afraid.
‘Yes!’ he said, still mocking. ‘You should have run away, my golden girl, while you had the chance to do it!’
‘I know I should, and I can’t think why I did not,’ she replied, incurably candid.
‘I could hazard a guess.’
She shook her head. ‘No. Not if you mean it was because I wanted you to kiss me again, for I don’t. I can’t prevent you, for my strength is so much less than yours. You needn’t even fear to be called to account for it. My brother is a schoolboy, and – very lame. Perhaps you already know that?’
‘No, and I’m much obliged to you for telling me! I need have no scruples, I see.’
She looked up at him searchingly, trying to read his mind, for although he jeered she thought his voice had a bitter edge.Then, as she stared into his eyes she saw them smiling yet fierce, and a line of Byron’s flashed into her head.There was a laughing devil in his sneer. ‘Oh,dolet me go!’ she begged. ‘I’ve suddenly had the most diverting thought! Oh, dear!PoorOswald!’
He was quite taken aback, as much by the genuine amusement in her face, as by what she had said, and he did let her go. ‘You’ve suddenly had the most diverting thought?’ he repeated blankly.
‘Thank you!’ said Venetia, giving her crushed dress a little shake. ‘Yes, indeed I have, though I daresay you might not think it a very good joke, but that’s because you don’t know Oswald.’
‘Well, who the devil is he? Your brother?’
‘Good God, no! He is Sir John Denny’s son, and the top of his desire is to be mistaken for theCorsair. He combs his hair into wild curls, knots silken handkerchiefs round his neck, and broods over the dark passions in his soul.’
‘Does he, indeed? And what has this puppy to say to anything?’
She picked up her basket. ‘Only that if ever he meets you he will be quitegreenwith jealousy, for you are precisely what he thinkshewould like to be – even though you don’t study the picturesque in your attire.’
He looked thunderstruck for a moment, and ejaculated: ‘A Byronic hero –! Oh, my God! Why, you abominable –’ He broke off, as a cock pheasant exploded out of the wood, and said irritably: ‘Mustthat worthless dog of yours make my birds as wild as be-damned?’
‘Yes, because my brother doesn’t like him to do so at Undershaw, which is why I brought him with me today. Putting up game is what he particularly enjoys doing, and as he’s quite useless as a gun-dog, poor fellow, he gets very few opportunities to do it. Do you object? I can’t see why you should, when you never come here to shoot!’
‘I neverhavedone so!’ he retorted. ‘Thisyear is quite another matter, however! I own I had not meant to stay in Yorkshireabove a few days, but that was before I made your acquaintance. I am going to remain at the Priory for the present!’
‘How splendid!’ said Venetia affably. ‘In general it is a trifle dull here, butthatwill be quite at an end if you are to remain amongst us!’ She caught sight of Flurry, called him to heel, and dropped a slight curtsy. ‘Goodbye!’
‘Oh, not goodbye!’ he protested. ‘I mean to know you better, Miss Lanyon of Undershaw!’
