Georgette Heyer - The Masqueraders by The Masqueraders

Author:The Masqueraders
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2012-04-28T12:28:58+00:00

CHAPTER XX

Ingenuity of My Lord Barham

Robin had, perforce, to wish his sister joy of her conquest. He perceived her to be troubled, an unusual state of mind with her, and abandoned the teasing note. ‘To be honest, my dear, I was wrong in under-rating the mountain. What happened last night?’

She told him, choosing her words carefully, he thought. ‘He caught my wrist,’ she ended, ‘and bore it downwards. I knew then, of course. There was no more to say. I know when it is time to have done with lies.’ She pushed back the ruffles from her hand, and inspected the wrist closely.

‘What, do the marks still linger?’ Robin was inclined to be indignant.

‘No. I thought they did,’ she said inconsequently. ‘He asked my name; I told him. He guessed that I was the old gentleman’s child. The rest is nothing.’

Robin let that pass. He fell to playing with his rings. ‘I’m of the opinion he’ll have you, Prue.’

She smiled at that, but the smile died. ‘I don’t like it, Robin. It was very well to play this part when none knew the truth, but now—he knows, and—do you understand at all?’

‘Certainly, child. You might leave your part. He offers you a change.’

She turned her head. ‘Oh, and you thought that I would take it, did you not?’

‘No, my Prue. I thought you would not,’ Robin grinned. ‘For myself I don’t mind the large gentleman. For all his respectability there’s some humour in the man. I’ve a notion he doesn’t approve of your little brother. We shall see.’

The Honourable Charles, appearing then to claim Mr Merriot, there was an end to further discussion. Prudence went off with Mr Belfort. Later in the day she met Sir Anthony at White’s Club. She knew a momentary embarrassment, but something in Fanshawe’s demeanour banished it. He walked home with her, and if she had dreaded some love-making, that fear was quickly dispelled. He was as he had said he would be, her very good friend. It was only when she had parted from him that she realised how possessive was the gentleman’s attitude. He seemed to consider that she belonged to him already. She pondered the question thoughtfully, and arrived at the conclusion that perhaps he had reason.

My Lord Barham, when he left Arlington Street, sauntered back to his lodgings in great good humour. He had no objection to Sir Anthony having complete knowledge of the masquerade; so slight a deviation from the original plan was not enough to perturb his lordship. That quick brain was busy with the fitting of Sir Anthony into my lord’s machinations. He reflected with a pleased smile that John, the unbelieving, should see how even a big man with sleepy eyes should dance to his piping.

My lord came to his rooms in Half Moon Street to find that a visitor awaited him. My lord’s valet took his hat and cane, and murmured the name of Markham. My lord listened with a head gently inclined in interest, and went into his dining-room, smoothing a wrinkle from a satin sleeve.

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