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It was so unexpected that it surprised a tiny gasp out of her.
‘I am continually shocked by the on-dits people don’t scruple to repeat to innocent maidens,’ pursued his lordship, in a saddened voice.
‘If it comes to that,’ retorted Frederica, with spirit. ‘I am continually shocked by the things you don’t scruple to say to me, cousin! You are quite abominable!’
He sighed. ‘Alas, I know it! The reflection gives me sleepless nights.’
‘Coming it rather too strong, my lord!’ she said, before she could stop herself. She added hastily, as he put up his brows in exaggerated incredulity: ‘As Harry would say!’
‘No doubt! But such cant expressions on the lips of delicately nurtured females are extremely unbecoming.’
Well aware of this, she was just about to apologise for the lapse when she caught the gleam in his eye, and said, instead: ‘Odious creature! I wish you will be serious!’
He laughed. ‘Very well, let us be serious! You want to know who is responsible for the rumour that you are very wealthy –’
‘Yes, and what’s to be done about it!’
‘Nothing. As to who may have started the rumour, I know no more than you do, and can perceive no reason why you should be thrown into high fidgets over it. If we are to be serious, let me advise you to discourage Ollerton’s advances to your sister!’
She looked quickly up at him. ‘Why?’
‘Because, my innocent, he is what we call a man of the town.’
She nodded. ‘I’m glad to know that, for it’s what I thought myself. Though I must own he has been very civil and obliging, and has a well-bred ease of manner – except that now and then he goes a little beyond the line of what is pleasing. However, there are others, who are even better-bred, who go a long way beyond it!’
‘So there are!’ he agreed. ‘Who introduced him to you?’
‘Mrs Dauntry, at Lady Jersey’s party. Which
is why I concluded that I must have been mistaken in him.’
‘Did she indeed?’ he said. ‘Well, well!’ There was a gleam of amusement in his eyes, which she tried in vain to interpret. He flicked open his snuff-box, and took a meditative pinch, and suddenly laughed. Meeting her enquiring look, he said: ‘Who would have thought that your adoption of me would have provided me with so much entertainment?’
‘You did!’ responded Frederica unhesitatingly. ‘I didn’t know it at the outset, but I am very sure now that you adopted us merely to infuriate Lady Buxted!’
‘And can you blame me?’
An involuntary chuckle escaped her. ‘Well, perhaps not as much as I ought! But you did think it might amuse you!’
‘True – and so it did! What I did not foresee was that I should find myself taking so much interest in the fortunes of the Merrivilles!’ He paused, but before she could retort in kind, demanded abruptly: ‘Who was the rum touch I saw escorting your sister yesterday? A counter-coxcomb in a striped waistcoat?’
‘Mr Nutley!’ she uttered, in despairing accents.
‘Who the devil is Mr Nutley?’
‘Our neighbour! A very worthy young man, but quite ineligible, and nutty upon Charis! He – he languishes! Besides sending her flowers, and lying in wait for her to step out of the house with only Owen to escort her!’ replied Frederica bitterly.
‘Good God! Has she a tendre for him?’
‘No, of course she has not! The thing is that she cannot bring herself to repulse him! And if you think you can convince her that it would be kinder by far to do so now than later I can only say, cousin, that you don’t know her! She has a great deal of sensibility, you see, and –’
‘A great deal of folly!’ he interrupted impatiently.
‘Yes, that too,’ she agreed, sighing. ‘I wish she wasn’t such a goosecap, for I daresay anyone might impose upon her. I own it has me in a worry very often.’
He nodded, but said: ‘It will do her no good to be seen in Ollerton’s company, but he won’t go beyond flirtation: I’ll see to that!’
‘Thank you – but he has done nothing to warrant – I mean, I don’t at all wish you to say anything to him! It would be refining too much upon too little.’
