Part 33 (1/2)
”How do I know?” ss, Lavinia Also-” he glanced round the roos”
”II don't understand you!” she shot out, twisting the lace of her goith restless, uneasy fingers
”No? Must I then be lad!”
”Then letof you, my dear Lavinia, that you will commit no indiscretion”
Her cheeks flarown too friendly with Harold Lovelace”
”Well! What of it?”
His Grace put up his eye-glass, faintly astonished
”What of it? Pray think a moment, Lavinia!”
”'Tis not likely that I shall be the one to disgrace the naive you my word I should do all in my power to prevent any foolhardy action on your part Pray do not forget it”
She sat silent, biting her lips
”It is, ets burnt And reallant captain has not one half of Richard's wealth”
Up she sprang, kicking her skirts as she always did when angered
”Money! money!always money!” she cried ”I do not care one rap for it! And Richard is not wealthy!”
”Richard is heir to wealth,” replied his Grace calmly ”And even an you are so impervious to its charms, I,you will not leave him for any such mad rake as Lovelace, ould be faithful to you for perhaps three er”
”Tracy, I will not have you speak to iven you no cause! I did not say I had any desire to run aith himand he would be faithful to me! He has been faithful all these years!”
His Grace sly
”My dear-!”
”Oh, I know there have been episodesindiscretions Do you think I count him the worse for that?”
”Evidently not”
”There has never been another serious love with him! I hate you!”
”You are overfree with your emotions, my dear So you do indeed contemplate an elopement?”
”No, no, no! I do not! I am fond of dicky!”
”Dear me!”
”Of course I shall not leave him!”
”Why then, I am satisfied,” he answered, and rose to his feet ”I shall look to see Captain Lovelace more out of your company” He picked up his hat and cane and stood directly in front of her One dead white hand, on which blazed a great ruby seal ring, took her little pointed chin in a firm clasp and tilted her head up until she was forced to ly
”You understand me?” he asked harshly
Lavinia's eyes filled with tears and her soft underlip treave a tiny sob ”Oh, yes, Tracy!”
The eyes lost solea her chin, patted her cheek indulgently
”Bear in mind, child, that I am fifteen years your senior, and I have er than you have in the whole of your composition I do not wish to witness your ruin”
The tears bri at her eyes with one heavily-laced corner
”You do love me, Tracy?”
”In the recesses of my mind I believe I cherish so his handkerchief ”I used to class you with your deplorable brothers, but I think perhaps I rong”
She gave an hysterical laugh
”Tracy, how can you be so disagreeable? Lud! but I pity Diana an she marries you!”
To her surprise he flushed a little
”Diana, an she marries me, will have all that her heart could desire,” he answered stiffly, and took his leave
Once outside in the square he looked for a sedan, and not seeing one, walked away towards Audley Street He went quickly, but his progress was so in their chairs down the street, perceived hi presently from them, he turned into Curzon Street, and from thence down Half Moon Street, where he literally fell into the ar, who had ecu's proffered escort, and hurried down into Piccadilly, walking eastwards towards St James's Square, where was the Andover town house He was fated to be again detained, for as he walked along Arlington Street, Mr
Walpole was on the point of descending the steps of No 5 He also had much to say to his Grace He had no idea that Belo he had arrived? Well, he, Walpole, had been out of town all the weekat Twickenham He hoped Bel would honour hi there on Thursday George was coecumbe; he had asked March and Gilly Williams, but the Lord knehether both would be induced to appear! Bel had heard of Gilly's absurd jealousy? Wilding was pro
Andover accepted gracefully and parted from Mr Walpole Heat his house, went straight to the library, where sat a sleek, eroom He stood up as his Grace entered, and bowed
Belmanoir nodded shortly and sat down at his desk
”I have work for you, Harper”
”Yes, siryour Grace, I should say”
”Do you know Sussex?”