It couldn’t get more definitive than that, Scarlett supposed.And she could see Tilly’s logic.Why did George ever have to know about this kiss?If it really was a trifle, an accident of fate, then perhaps it reallywasnothing.
“George kissed you the other night.”
“Yes,” Tilly said, blushing and looking down.“He did.And it was a very good kiss too.”She looked up at Scarlett, beaming.“I really do think I’ll be happy with him, Scarlett.”
Scarlett sighed.She couldn’t argue with that.
“Very well, then.We’ll keep this matter with Mr.Westmore between us.”
“And what about you and Mr.Brown?”Tilly said with a smirk.“Were youreallylocked in the closet?”
“Yes, Matilda,” Scarlett snapped in her most schoolmarmish tone.“You know my fear of small spaces.It was horrendous.”
“And he didn’t try and, uh, comfort you?”
“The poor man had no ideawhatto do.”
Of course, nothing could be further from the truth.Mr.Malcolm Brown had known exactly what to do—and that was the problem.
“I am sorry that happened,” Tilly said, looking very sisterly and contrite now that Scarlett had declined to scold her.“I hope you weren’t too terrified.”
“I survived,” she mumbled, averting her gaze.
The door behind them opened.Scarlett turned to see Vera bustling through it—indeed, her stepmother was walking about as fast as her stepmother could.
Vera slammed the door behind her.“Where have you two been?”
Scarlett and Tilly exchanged a look.Scarlett had no idea how to explain the closet incident to Vera—it was too bizarre to translate, and she definitely didn’t need the tale circulating further, even to her stepmother.
“Scarlett felt faint,” Tilly said.“So we came up here to rest.”
“Faint?”Vera said, pulling up short.“Are you ill, my dear?”
Given all her own ailments, Vera was never more sympathetic than when someone else was sick.
“No, it was just a passing spell,” Scarlett reassured her.“I had a glass of wine, and I feel fine now.”
“Very good.Not port, I hope?You know what I say about port and faintness.”
“No, no, never,” Scarlett said.
Vera had strong opinions about remedies.She was never so cross as when either Tilly or she disobeyed these edicts.
“Excellent,” Vera said.“Well, I am glad that you girls were not neglecting the field for something frivolous.You won’t be happy to hear, Tilly, that Gertrude and George won the scavenger hunt.”
“Oh, I am happy for them,” Tilly said good-naturedly.“I know that the marchioness was very proud of her grand prize.What did they win?”
“That is just the thing, my dear.They will be going up together in a hot-air balloon tomorrow.”
Tilly turned a pale shade of green.
“In the sky?”
“Yes, where else?”Vera frowned.“And think of how such excitement might bond them.”
“The marchioness is having a hot-air balloon broughthere?”Scarlett said in disbelief.
She was intrigued.Unlike close spaces, she had always been intrigued by heights—and she had always wanted to ride in a hot-air balloon.
