“Yes, onedoeswonder,” Mr. Haventops said.
“I say, Haventops,” Mr. Genterly said quietly.
Haventops disregarded the warning. Percival could see Lady Cordelia’s cheeks redden. He would have to put a stop to this.
“I am only trying to assess the ladies’ knowledge of the subject,” Haventops said with a shrug. “This is a salon, not a rout, and we have the right to expect certain standards are met.”
“Haventops,” Percival said in a warning tone. “We will follow the rules of conduct here.”
It was said in a tone that meant to convey that his behavior was unacceptable and would not be tolerated. He would throw the man out on his ear if it became necessary. It was one thing to conduct a fierce, and even bordering on rude, debate with an equal challenger. It was quite another to bully a weaker opponent.
Lady Cordelia sipped her wine and set it down. She was looking less embarrassed than she had been. She was looking rather furious.
“Mr. Haventops,” she said calmly, “I would be delighted to acquaint you with my knowledge of the subject. Both Aristotle and St. Thomas Aquinas are correct—a man cannot be a good judge of his own case. This revelation has crystallized for me just now, as I have seen with my own eyes when a man does not realize he is acting ungentlemanly, petulant, and spiteful. But then, one must assume such a gentleman does not have a wife or sisters at home who might point out and soften such flaws before they are advertised so publicly.”
Mr. Genterly snorted. Sir Matthew said, “Touché, Lady Cordelia.”
Mr. Haventops looked as if his very head would explode into bits. He stood and said, “I need not remain here to be insulted in such a manner!”
“If one does not wish to be parried, one ought not swing one’s sword,” Lady Cordelia said coldly.
“Yes, you did start it, you know,” Miss Mayton said. “We were perfectly prepared to be civil and only say ‘one wonders’ or ‘what doyouthink’ all the night long.”
Mr. Haventops turned on his heel and stalked out of the room.
Percival was rather stunned by this turn of events. How on earth had Lady Cordelia bested Mr. Haventops?
She was positively marvelous.
“Lord Harveston,” Lady Cordelia said, “I apologize if I have driven one of your members from your drawing room.”
Percival surveyed the group. He said, “Please raise your hand if you are despondent over the departure of Mr. Haventops.”
There were some very decisive snorts, but no hands were raised.
“Now that piece of business is dispensed with,” Sir Matthew said, “Lady Cordelia, how did you know Haventops had no wife or sisters?”
Percival sat down in the chair beside Lady Cordelia that had so recently been vacated by Mr. Haventops. He was rather wondering about that himself.
While it might be his usual habit to circulate, this was far too interesting.
He briefly wondered if he ought to go and see how his aunt and her friends were faring. He dismissed the need, though. Lady Rawley was entirely capable of steering the ship wherever she was and he assumed there was far more discussion ofOthellothan anything else.
“I instantly suspected the gentleman lived alone,” Lady Cordelia said.
“Oh dear, yes, I see what you say,” Miss Mayton said.
What did they mean? It was as if they were speaking a foreign language only they understood.
The rest of the gentlemen leaned forward, looking as perplexed as he was.
“But then you say,” Mr. Genterly volunteered, “that a man cannot be a good judge of his case without womanly intercession?”
“How else can it be?” Lady Cordelia asked. “If a man lives alone, he lives on his own mountaintop, so to speak. Everything he does and says must be right, as there is no differing opinion.”
“But what if he lives with another man, rather than a woman? Say he lives with his father, or his brother?” Sir Matthew asked. “Would that not accomplish the same aim?”
Lady Cordelia and Miss Mayton looked at each other, appearing very amused by the idea.
