“Praise the Lord for that. Who is the girl?”
“A pretty child,” Merivale answered guardedly.
“Ay, I’d have guessed that. Justin had ever a nice taste in——” Again he stopped. “Thunder an’ turf, I beg your pardon, Jenny! I’d forgot! Demmed careless of me!” He looked ruefully at Merivale. “I must always be saying the wrong thing, Tony. It’s this rattle-pate of mine, and what with the bottle—well, well!”
Merivale led him into the library, where a lackey came to them presently, bringing wine. Rupert settled his long length in a chair and drank deeply.
“Truth to tell, Tony,” he said confidently, “I’m more at ease when the ladies are not present. My tongue runs away with me, burn it! Not but what Jenny’s a devilish fine woman,” he added hastily. “The wonder is that you admit me into your house. When one thinks ’twas my brother ran off with Jenny——” He shook his head comically.
“You’re always welcome,” smiled Merivale. “I’ve no fear that you’ll seek to abduct Jenny.”
“Lord, no! I’m not saying that I haven’t trifled somewhat with women now and then—one has to, y’know. Honour of the name, my boy—but I’ve no real taste for ’em, Tony, none at all.” He refilled his glass. “’Tis a queer thing, when you come to think on’t. Here am I, an Alastair, with never an intrigue to my name. I feel it sometimes,” he sighed, “’tis as though I were no true Alastair. Why, there’s never been one of us——”
“I’d not crave the vice, Rupert,” said Merivale dryly.
“Oh, I don’t know! There’s Justin, now, and wherever he is there is sure to be some wench. I’m not saying aught against him, mind you, but we don’t love one another overmuch. I’ll say one thing for him, though: he’s not mean. I daresay you’ll not believe me, Tony, but since he came into that fortune of his I’ve not been in a sponging house once.” He looked up with some pride. “Not once.”
“It’s marvellous,” Merivale agreed. “And have you really come down to see Léonie?”
“Is that her name? Ay, what else?”
The grey eyes began to twinkle.
“I thought mayhap ’twas to see myself and Jennifer?”
“Oh, of course, of course!” Rupert assured him, sitting up hurriedly. He saw the twinkle, and sank back again. “Devil take you, Tony, you’re laughing at me! Ay, I’d a mind to see Justin’s latest. Is she alone at the Court?”
“No, with a cousin of yours. Madam Field.”
“What, not old cousin Harriet? Lud, what will Justin be at next? He’s got his eye fixed to the proprieties this time, eh?”
“I believe it’s true that she is no more than his ward.”
Rupert cocked one incredulous eyebrow.
“For which reason, my dear fellow, you’ll either treat her with becoming respect, or journey back to town.”
“But, Tony—Damn it, you know Justin!”
“I wonder if any of us do? I know this child.”
“I’ll see for myself,” said Rupert. He chuckled. “I’d give something to see Justin’s face when he finds I’ve been poaching on his land! Not that I want to anger him; he’s devilish unpleasant when he’s crossed.” He paused, frowning prodigiously. “You know, Tony, I often wonder what he feels about me. He’s fond of Fanny, I’ll swear. He was devilish strict with her in the old days—never think it, would you?—But me—He gives me a handsome allowance these days, yet it’s seldom he has a friendly word for me.”
“Do you want a friendly word from him?” inquired Merivale, smoothing a wrinkle from his satin sleeve.
“Oh well! He’s my brother, y’know! Queer part of it is he used to take precious good care what happened to me when I was a youngster. He was always a damned smooth-tongued icicle, of course. I don’t mind telling you, Tony, I’m still something nervous of him.”
“I don’t pretend to understand him, Rupert. I used to think there was good in him somewhere. The child—Léonie—worships him. Have a care to what you say in her presence!”
“My dear fellow, it’s not likely I’d say aught——”
“It’s more than likely,” retorted Merivale. “Addle-pated young scamp!”
“Now stap me, that’s not fair!” cried Rupert, heaving himself up. “Scamp, did you say? What about the High Toby, my boy, eh?”
Merivale flung up his hand.
“Touché! For the love of heaven, Rupert, don’t spread that tale about town!”
Rupert smoothed his ruffled hair, and managed to assume an expression of vast superiority.
“Oh, I’m not such a fool as you think, Tony, I assure you!”
“Well, thank God for that!” answered Merivale.
CHAPTER XV
Lord Rupert Makes the Acquaintance of Léonie
Rupert rode over to the Court the very next day and heralded his arrival by a prolonged peal on the door bell, accompanied by several resounding knocks. Léonie was seated by the fire in the hall, and the commotion startled her a little. When the butler came to admit the visitor she rose, and peeped round the corner of the screen to see who it was. A gay, boisterous voice met her ears.
“Hey, Johnson! Not dead yet? Where’s my cousin?”
“Oh, it’s you, my lord?” said the old man. “’Tis no one else would make such a thundering on the door, to be sure. Madam’s within.”
Rupert strode past him into the hall. At sight of Léonie regarding him in some trepidity from the fireplace he swept off his hat and bowed.
“Your pardon, mamzelle. Thunder an’ turf, what’s come over the place?” He cast an astonished glance about him. “It’s been like a tomb for centuries, and now——!”
“It’s my Lord Rupert, madam,” explained Johnson, apologetically. He frowned severely at his young master. “Ye can’t stay here, my lord. This is his Grace’s ward. Mistress Léonie de Bonnard.”
“I’m at Merivale, old sobersides,” said the graceless Rupert. “If you say I’m to go, mamzelle, I will.”
Léonie’s nose wrinkled in perplexity.
“Rupert? Oh, you are the brother of Monseigneur!”
“Mon——? Oh, ay, ay! That’s it!”
Léonie skipped forward.
“I am very pleased to see you,” she said politely. “Now I curtsy and you kiss my hand, n’est-ce pas?”
Rupert stared.
“Ay, but——”
“Eh bien!” Léonie sank, and rose, and held out her small hand. Rupert kissed it punctiliously.
“I never before was told by a lady to kiss her hand,” he remarked.
“I should not have said it?” she asked anxiously. “Voyons, these things are very difficult to learn! Where is Monseigneur, please?”
“Lord, I don’t know, my dear! Ours is no united household, I give you my word!”
Léonie looked at him gravely.
“You are the young Rupert. I know. I have heard tell of you.”
“Not a might of good, I’ll be bound. I’m the scapegrace of the family.”
“Oh no! I have heard people speak of you in Paris, and I think they like you very much.”
“Do they, by Gad? Do you come from Paris, my dear?”
She nodded.
“I was Monseigneur’s pa——” She clasped her hands over her mouth, and her eyes danced.
Rupert was greatly intrigued. He cast a shrewd glance at her short curls.
“Pa——?”
“I must not say. Please do not ask me!”
“You were never his page?”
Léonie stared down at her toes.
“Here’s a romance!” said Rupert, delighted. “His page, by all that’s marvellous!”
“You must not tell!” she said earnestly. “Promise!”
“Mum as a corpse, my dear!” he answered promptly. “I never thought to stumble on such a fairy tale! What are you doing cooped up here?”