‘Kitten! No, really, Kitten! Dash it, you can’t – Not our affair!’ expostulated Sherry.
For once she paid no heed to him; the girl was speaking in a panting voice. ‘Ask him if he dare deny his own child! Ask him if he did not promise me marriage! Ask him if I was not an honest maid when he saw me first! O God, what is to become of me?’
‘No, Kitten, for heaven’s sake –!’ said Sherry quickly, as Hero turned towards Revesby. ‘You can’t ask Monty – Why the devil don’t you do something, Monty, instead of standing there?’
‘I beg Lady Sheringham will not allow herself to be imposed upon,’ Revesby said, his voice a little strained. ‘The unfortunate female appears to be out of her senses. I recommend she should be escorted to the nearest Roundhouse.’
A moan from the girl made Hero clasp her more securely in her arms, and say indignantly: ‘How dare you? Have you no compassion for the poor soul? Is this dear little baby indeed yours?’
‘His! his!’ cried the girl. ‘Look, is she not like him?’
Ferdy, peering at the unconscious infant, said dubiously: ‘Queer thing, the way females can see a likeness in a baby. Well,what I mean is they don’t look like anything much. Remember thinking so when my sister Fairford’s eldest was born. She and my mother would have it it was the image of poor Fairford. Mind you, I’m not saying he isn’t a plain-looking fellow, Fairford, but –’
‘Oh, be quiet, Ferdy!’ interrupted Sherry, quite exasperated. ‘Yes, I thought as much! Now we are beginning to attract a crowd! Ten to one, someone will be leaving Almack’s at any moment, too, and a pretty set of gudgeons we must look – For God’s sake, Monty, take the girl away!’
‘My dear Sherry, I have already stated that I never set eyes on her before in my life. I must decline any responsibility in this affair. If you are wise, you will summon the Watch and have the wench removed.’
All this time the Sheringhams’ footman had been standing holding open the door of the barouche, apparently deaf and blind to what was going on. A couple of sedan chair bearers, who had lounged over from the opposite side of the street, now showed an inclination to take up the cudgels in defence of the deserted girl; the door of the Assembly Rooms opened and voices sounded. Revesby turned abruptly on his heel and strode off down the street. A despairing cry from the girl made Mr Ringwood shudder, and goaded Sherry into desperate action.
‘Here, for the lord’s sake get into the carriage!’ he said, pushing both women towards it.
‘Yes, do pray come with me!’ Hero said to her protégée. ‘The baby will take cold in this horrid, draughty street, and I promise we will look after you, won’t we, Sherry?’
‘Yes. I mean – well, never mind that now!’ replied her harassed husband. ‘Drive home, John!’
The coachman acknowledged this command with great stateliness; the door was shut on the two women; the footman jumped up behind; and the barouche moved forward, just as aparty of ladies, with their attendant squires, began to descend the steps of Almack’s.
Ferdy was still staring at the spot where he had last seen Revesby. Mr Ringwood thrust a hand in his arm and drew him to walk with himself and the Viscount towards Half Moon Street.
‘Never seen anything to beat it!’ Ferdy said. ‘Fellow just walked off! Not a word to anyone! Ratted, by God! Bad, very bad!’
‘You wanted to rat yourself,’ Mr Ringwood reminded him. ‘Devilish awkward start! Don’t know that I blame him.’
‘No right to leave Sherry with the baby,’ said Ferdy severely. ‘Not Sherry’s baby, dash it.’
‘The girl’s mad!’ Sherry said.
‘No, she ain’t,’ contradicted Mr Ringwood. ‘Dare say it is Revesby’s baby: wouldn’t be the first.’
‘Well, damn it, man, what of it? Deuced unfortunate she should have run Monty to earth outside Almack’s, but no one ever supposed he was a saint!’
‘Ferdy’s right,’ said Mr Ringwood. ‘Fellow is a commoner! No business to leave the baby to starve. Easy enough to provide for it if it is his baby.’
‘Girl seemed very certain of it,’ offered Ferdy. ‘Said it was like him. Tell you what, Gil: take another look at the baby!’
‘No use doing that. Fellow disowned it. Can’t force him to provide for it.’
‘Dash it!’ Sherry exclaimed. ‘If every bit of muslin –’
‘Didn’t look to me like a bit of muslin, Sherry.’
‘I don’t believe Monty –’
‘No, very likely you don’t,’ said Mr Ringwood ruthlessly. ‘Fellow’s a damned rake, if you ask me.’
‘Lord, who cares for that? Anyone would think –’
‘No one cares. Point is –’
