“Jasper will escort you home, girls,” Aunt Ginny announced, as Livy and Cilla were putting their bonnets and coats on after the last guest had left.
“No need,” said Pa, coming out of Jasper’s study. Aunt Ginny flushed, looking like a child who had been caught with her fingers in the biscuit tin.
“Horace! I did not know you had come back.”
“Since Jasper was not available when I was here earlier, I returned, Virginia. He and I have been having a cozy chat. I shall not trouble Jasper to escort my daughters today. Do you have an engagement with your aunt this evening, girls?”
“Yes, Pa,” Livy told him. “We are invited to a musical evening at Lady Eddington’s.”
“Very good,” said Pa. “I shall take my daughters in my carriage and meet you there, Virginia. It must be very crowded in your carriage with six ladies. I should have thought of it earlier. I shall also collect them at whatever time you tell me to be there.”
“Horace, there is no need for this,” said Aunt Ginny. “We are more than happy to take the girls with us.”
“It is no trouble at all,” Pa insisted. “We shall see you there, Virginia.”
Livy wondered what he and Jasper had talked about, but what he said after they were out in the street put her cousin from her mind. “You have visitors at home, girls. The Sanderson brothers were turned away at your aunt’s place, so they came across the road in the hopes that you were at home. I told them to return after an hour, when visiting hours would be over, and that they could then take you for a brief walk. Barker shall go to play propriety.”
Take that, Aunt Ginny.
