“That’s all very well, but it was you who brought up the subject of Endymion and Charis, and — ”
“For heaven’s sake, Harry, no!” she exclaimed. “I can’t and I won’t enter into argument with you!”
He read into this an elder sister’s contempt for his opinion, and instantly stiffened, saying with freezing civility: “As you wish!” She knew that she had wounded his sensibilities, and that she ought to reassure him, but she also knew that it would require tact and patience, both of which virtues had deserted her; so she merely smiled wearily at him., excusing herself with the reflection that Harry’s miffs never lasted for long.
Charis came down to dinner, rather red-eyed, but quite composed; and when she and Frederica retired to the drawing-room, she took up her stitchery, responding to Frederica’s attempt at conversation, but inaugurating none herself.
They went early to bed; and Frederica’s heart was lightened by the clinging embrace she received, in answer to her good-night kiss.
She fell asleep almost at once, but Charis lay awake, listening for Harry’s step on the stairs. When it came, she sat up expectantly, for he had promised to let her know the result of his mission. She called “Come in!” in a hushed voice, when he tapped softly on her door, and scarcely waited for him to shut it before demanding: “Oh, Harry, did you see him?”
“Yes, of course I did. Don’t speak so loud!” he replied, with a significant glance at the wall which separated her room from Frederica’s.
“What did he say?” she asked, obediently lowering her voice. “What does he think we should do?”
“He said he must have time to consider the matter,” he answered, unable to repress a grin.
“It naturally came as a great shock to Mm,” said Charis, with dignity.
“Lord, yes! Knocked him bandy! Didn’t seem able to say anything at first but ‘What a devilish thing!’ However, we’re to meet him tomorrow, so you may be easy! By-the-by, we had better decide on some errand, in case Frederica wants to know where we are off to — which you may lay your life she will!”
“Oh, no, Harry, must we? I can’t bear to deceive her!” Charis said wretchedly.
“Well, if that’s the case you had better not meet Endymion!”
“But I must!”
“Then stop being a goose! Isn’t there anything you wish to purchase?”
After prolonged thought, Charis said that if she were forced to go to Alver she would need some drawing-paper — not that she would have the heart to use it; so this subterfuge was agreed upon, and Harry went off to bed, recommending her not to get into one of her worries.
She was terribly nervous next day, but fortune favoured her. When it was time to set out for Kensington Gardens, and she went to take leave of Frederica, she found that she was entertaining a morning visitor, in the person of Lord Buxted.
Her entrance created a welcome interruption. His evil genius had prompted his lordship, as soon as he had shaken hands with Felix, who was lying on the sofa, to express the hope that he would never again cause his sister to suffer so much anxiety. Frederica intervened, but to no avail. Lord Buxted had decided long since that she was by far too indulgent, and he said, with a smile which instantly set up the hackles of all three Merrivilles: “You have a very forgiving sister, Felix! I am afraid I think you deserved all that happened to you! I’ll say no more, but — ”
“I wouldn’t listen to you, whatever you said!” Felix burst out, his cheeks scarlet, and his blue eyes flaming. “You’ve no right! You aren’t my guardian!”
“Felix, hold your tongue!” Jessamy said sharply, pressing him back against the cushions. He glanced at Buxted, and said, carefully choosing his words: “It is quite unnecessary to scold my brother, sir, I assure you.”
“It isn’t his business to scold me!” declared Felix furiously. “It’s Cousin Alverstoke’s business, and he did! And it wasn’t a — bear-garden jaw, because he’s a right one, and he knew I was as sorry as I could be, and if he chooses to make me regret I was ever born if I do it again he may!”
Since it was obvious that Felix was fast working himself into a state of undesirable excitement, and even more obvious that an attempt to wring an apology from him would be violently rebuffed, Frederica greeted her sister’s entrance with heartfelt relief.
She did not for a moment believe that Harry was going to escort Charis on a shopping expedition, but she accepted the story, merely saying: “Are you taking Lufra? I shouldn’t, if I were you!”
“Oh, no!” Charis said, releasing her hold on Lufra’s collar. “Only he knows we are going out, and he’s bound to try to get out the instant the door is opened, so I brought him to you, Jessamy.”
He nodded, and snapped his fingers at Lufra, who was sniffing at Buxted’s well-polished boots; and Charis went away, thankful to have escaped questioning.
Buxted’s presence must have precluded suspicious enquiries, but Frederica would not, in any event, have made any. She was not a gaoler, nor did she wish Charis to feel that she was being kept under surveillance. There was little doubt that she had an assignation with Endymion, and deplorable though this was it would be needlessly unkind to prevent what would probably be their last meeting for some months. And at least she was taking Harry with her.
She dismissed the matter from her thoughts, and set herself to divert Lord Buxted, who was annoying Jessamy by commenting humorously on the astonishment visitors must feel to find such a monster as Lufra in Frederica’s drawing-room.
But none of the three visitors who were presently ushered into the room evinced any astonishment. The first was Darcy Moreton, whom Buxted eyed with hostility; and within a few minutes Lady Elizabeth Kent-mere and Lord Alverstoke were announced.
The effect of this was electric, and was observed by Mr Moreton rather ruefully. There was no misreading the smile in Frederica’s eyes, and no doubt whatsoever that Alverstoke was on the best of terms with his wards. Felix shouted joyfully: “Cousin Alverstoke!” and struggled to his feet; and Jessamy, pausing only to bow to Lady Elizabeth, began instantly to tell him of something that had happened at Monk’s Farm after his departure. As Felix also had something to tell him, and Lufra, catching the spirit of these demonstrations, uttered some yelping barks, pandemonium reigned for several minutes. Lady Elizabeth was laughing, and said, as she shook hands with Frederica: “I knew that they liked him, but not that his arrival would cause a riot!”
“No, and I apologize for them!” said Frederica, smiling. “You would suppose them to have been reared in a back-slum!”
“Hardly that!” said Buxted. “But surely it cannot be good for Felix to be so much excited? Would it not be as well if Jessamy took him into another room?”
“Oh, no!” replied Frederica. “Alverstoke knows exactly how to handle him.”
This was soon seen to be true. His lordship quelled the riot without the smallest difficulty, ordering Felix back to the sofa, requesting Jessamy to call off the Baluchistan hound, and adding that when he felt a desire to be deafened by a couple of gabblemongers he would inform them of it. These trenchant words were received with the utmost good-humour: a circumstance which Buxted observed with some surprise, and considerable disfavour. Nor was he better pleased when Alverstoke went over to sit beside Frederica, and engaged her in what appeared to be an intimate discussion. Since Eliza, who was talking to Mr Moreton, good-naturedly drew her nephew into the conversation, he was obliged to give his attention to her, instead of trying jealously to hear what Alverstoke was saying, in a lowered voice, to Frederica.
It could scarcely have been more innocuous. “A marked improvement!” Alverstoke said.
“I think so. He was a little tired after the journey, and this hot weather seems to bring back some aches and pains.”