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‘Well, what could be plainer than that?’ inquired the Earl.
‘I am at a loss to understand you, sir. Certain applications have been made to you for – for permission to address me.’
‘Three,’ nodded his lordship. ‘The first was Wellesley Poole, but him I expected. The second was Claud Delabey Browne, whom I also expected. The third – now who was the third? Ah yes, it was young Matthews, was it not?’
‘It does not signify, sir. What I wish you to explain is, how you came to refuse these gentlemen without even the formality of consulting my wishes.’
‘Do you want to marry one of them?’ inquired the Earl solicitously. ‘I hope it is not Browne. I understand that his affairs are too pressing to allow him to wait until you are come of age.’
Miss Taverner controlled her tongue with a visible effort.‘As it happens, sir, I do not contemplate marriage with any of these gentlemen,’ she said. ‘But you had no means of knowing that when you refused them.’
‘To tell you the truth, Miss Taverner, your wishes in the matter do not appear to me to be of much importance. I am glad, of course, that your heart is not broken,’ he added kindly.
‘My heart would scarcely be broken by your refusal to consent to my marriage, sir. When I wish to be married I shall marry, with or without your consent.’
‘And who,’ asked the Earl, ‘is the fortunate man?’
‘There is no one,’ said Miss Taverner curtly. ‘But –’ The Earl took out his snuff-box, and opened it. ‘But my dear Miss Taverner, are you not being a trifle indelicate? You are not proposing, I trust, to command some gentleman to marry you?
The impropriety of such an action must strike even so masterful a mind as yours.’
Miss Taverner’s eyes were smouldering dangerously. ‘What I wish to make plain to you, Lord Worth, is that if any gentleman whom I – if anyone should ask me to marry him whom I – you know very well what I mean!’
He smiled. ‘Yes, Miss Taverner, I know what you mean. But keep my letter by you, for it tells you just as plainly what I mean.’
‘Why?’ she shot at him. ‘What object can you have?’
He took a pinch of snuff, and lightly dusted his fingers before he answered her. Then he said in his cool way: ‘You are a very wealthy young woman, Miss Taverner.’
‘Ah!’ said Judith, ‘I begin to understand.’
‘I should be happy if I thought you did,’ he replied, ‘but I feel it to be extremely doubtful. You have a considerable fortune in your own right. More important than this is the fact t
hat under your father’s Will you are heiress to as much of your brother’s property as is unentailed.’
‘Well?’ said Judith.
‘That being so,’ said Worth, shutting his snuff-box with a snap and restoring it to his pocket, ‘there is little likelihood of gaining my consent to your marriage with anyone whom I can at the moment call to mind.’
‘Except,’ said Miss Taverner through her teeth, ‘yourself !’
‘Except, of course, myself,’ he agreed suavely.
‘And do you suppose, Lord Worth, that there is any great likeli hood of my marrying you?’ inquired Judith in a sleek, deceptive voice.
He raised his brows. ‘Until I ask you to marry me, Miss Taverner, not the least likelihood,’ he replied gently.
For fully a minute she could not trust herself to speak. She would have liked to have swept from the room, but the Earl was between her and the door, and she could place no dependence on him moving out of the way. ‘Have the goodness to leave me, sir. I have no more to say to you.’
He strolled forward till he stood immediately before her. She suspected him of meaning to take her hands, whipped them both behind her, and took a swift step backward. A large cabinet prevented her from retreating further, and the Earl very coolly following, she found herself cornered. He took her chin in his hand, and made her hold up her head, and stood looking down at her with a faintly sardonic smile. ‘You are handsome, Miss Taverner; you are not unintelligent – except in your dealings with me; you are a termagant. Here is some advice for you: keep your sword sheathed.’ She stood rigid and silent, staring doggedly up into his face. ‘Oh yes, you hate me excessively, I know. But you are my ward, Miss Taverner, and if you are wise you will accept that with a good grace.’ He let go her chin, gave her cheek a careless pat.‘There, that is better advice than you think. I am a more experi enced duellist than you. I have brought you your snuff, and the recipe.’
It was on the tip of her tongue to refuse both, but she bit back the words, aware that they would sound merely childish. ‘I am obliged to you,’ she said in an expressionless voice.
He moved to the door, and held it open. She walked past him into the hall. He nodded to the waiting footman, who at once brought him his hat and gloves. As he took them he said: ‘I beg you will make my excuses to Mrs Scattergood. Good night, Miss Taverner.’
‘Good night!’ said Judith, and turning on her heel, went back into the front drawing-room.
She entered with a somewhat hasty stride and shut the door behind her if not with a slam, at least with a decided snap. Her eyes were stormy; her cheeks looked hot. She flashed a look round the room, and the wrath died out of her face. Mrs Scattergood was not present; there was only Mr Taverner, seated by the window, and glancing through a newspaper.
