‘Be laughed at?’ Miss Lound interrupted him, her voice low and impassioned. ‘Miss Banham might be polite enough not to do so out loud but you can be sure she and her mama will have plenty to laugh over when they leave. “What on earth was she wearing? I am sure I have thrown out gowns in better state, and as for that hat … Was it ever a hat at all?” You think just because I lack the feminine graces that I have no feelings? Well I do, so thank you so very much for your kind invitation but I would far rather drown myself in the lake. Good day to you, Sir Rowland. Oh, and I can sing, but not nearly as well as Miss Banham so a duet with me is out of the question, at any time.’ With which she turned on her heel and strode out, very nearly slamming the great oaken door behind her.
He stood rooted to the spot, taken aback at the violence of her response, annoyed and perplexed in equal measure. He had come to her, eager to be with her and regretful that he might not instantly go and change,237and she had turned on him as if he had intentionally invited the Roxtons so that they would see her dressed for fishing. It was ridiculous, and now she had flung off in some tantrum. He ought to return to his guests and let her sulk. He paused, muttered under his breath, and headed after her.
A normal young woman, he thought, would not have gone far, but Miss Lound was striding away at a very unladylike pace. He would not run to catch her up, but he did have to lengthen his own stride and walk briskly. He did not call after her, and his footsteps made little sound upon the grass, so he was within twenty feet of her when she heard him. She spun round and glared at him.
‘Go away.’
‘That is rich, since this is my land and you are the one leaving.’ His own temper was rising at the injustice of her reaction.
‘Leave me alone.’
In response he came closer.
‘Stop sounding like a petulant adolescent and behave like a sensible woman.’
Rather than calming her, this added fuel to the flames of her wrath.
‘A sensible woman like the divine Miss Banham?’
‘I never mentioned Miss Banham.’
‘You did not need to. I heard her singing, with you.’
‘She was not.’
‘I heard her, heard the duet. Can you not even have238the decency to be honest with me?’
‘I am being honest, and you have no cause to rip up at me.’
They were both very loud now, and a crow flapped from an oak branch and wheeled away, cawing its disapproval.
‘I came to fish with you and find you entertaining the Roxtons.’ She made it sound an underhand thing to do.
‘Who happened to pay a call. What the devil do you expect me to do, put up a sign at the gates saying “No visitors please. Miss Lound may possibly be coming over to fish with me”?’ He was thoroughly exasperated because she was making all the wrong assumptions upon very little evidence.
‘How dare you use bad language in front of me.’
‘In the face of being treated to a display worthy of a nine-year-old in a tantrum I think I may be excused.’
‘You may not.’ She actually stamped her foot, lending weight to his description, and he did the worst possible thing. He laughed. It was not a nice, inclusive and convivial laugh, but jarring and bitter.
She stepped forward and slapped his face, or rather she attempted to do so. He was too swift for her and grabbed her at the wrist before any contact was made with his cheek.
‘Go home and calm down, Miss Lound,’ he instructed her, coldly. ‘You do yourself no favours by letting your choler have the better of your normal good sense. Calm down, and you will realise that you have leapt239to conclusions that are erroneous. I did not invite the Roxtons, I did not seek to see you mocked.’
‘You looked so pleased,’ she almost wailed.
‘I was pleased to see you. Heaven knows why. Good day to you, ma’am.’ He turned from her before she could reply and began to head back to towards the house. It was the best exit he thought he could make in the circumstances.
She stared after him and did not move until he reached the gravel paths and knot garden in front of the house.
240
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
If the Roxtons accepted his explanation of a small household crisis which had required that he abandon his duties as a host, and they did not see anything out of the ordinary in Sir Rowland’s demeanour, his brother did, even though he was mesmerised by Miss Banham. However, Tom also knew better than to probe. Rowland was the best of brothers, but just occasionally he could shut the doors and keep one out of his thoughts. This was one such instance. Instead, upon their departure, Tom went into raptures about the ‘Gloucestershire Aphrodite’, and Sir Rowland let him gush at length, not listening to more than one word in ten. Eventually he raised a hand to halt him.
‘Yes, yes, she is undoubtedly the most beautiful girl you, and half the shire, have ever seen, and she does241not appear to be puffed up in that knowledge. I doubt you will have your mind upon your Greek translation, but might I suggest that you return to your books if you want to complete all that you set yourself as a target before dinner time.’ It was a very polite way of saying ‘Go away. I need to think.’
