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He became aware his great-aunt was coming towards him, and stiffened at her approach. Had she talked to Maidie? Anticipating a reproach, he braced himself. But he was hardly prepared for what Lady Hester did say.
“Really, Laurie, what a fool you are!”
“What are you at, Aunt Hes?”
“My dear boy, if you will behave in this nonsensical dog-in-the-manger fashion, you will only serve to foster these stupid rumours.”
“Dog-in-the-manger? I did nothing of the sort!”
Lady Hester twinkled. “Laurie, you swooped upon the child like an avenging fury, swept her away from her suitors, and dragged her down here where anyone might have been privileged to witness your fight.”
Delagarde shifted uncomfortably. “It was not a fight.”
She regarded him with obvious scepticism. “Whatever it was, I advise you to refrain from a repeat encounter—in public, at any rate.”
“Did Maidie say anything to you?”
“Just now? She had no chance to do so. She was pounced upon by Adela and that cold-hearted brother of hers the moment she stepped through the door.”
Delagarde felt an odd frisson shake him. “Why do you call him cold-hearted?”
“He has calculating eyes.” She sighed a little. “The pity of it is I fear Maidie will end by feathering his nest for him, after all.”
“What? She could not possibly do so! Why should you think it?”
“My dear Laurie, only look at the alternatives. Besides, there is always something to be said for the devil you know.”
At this instant, the saying found no favour with Delagarde. He surprised himself with the discovery he disliked the notion of Maidie marrying Silsoe only one degree less than that of her marrying Wiveliscombe.
“My poor Maidie,” Eustace was saying in the unctuous tone Maidie so much disliked, “I do sincerely feel for you, believe me.”
Bad enough to have been forced into company with Adela and this hateful creature, without having to fathom the devious nature of his remarks. Maidie sighed wearily.
“I am sure you are going to tell me why.”
“He is talking of Lord Delagarde’s attitude towards you, Mary,” put in Adela, with a pitying look.
The exchange was taking place in a window alcove set into the little corridor between one of the two grand saloons. Weakened by her quarrel with Delagarde, Maidie had felt powerless to prevent herself from being coerced, quite gently but inexorably, with Adela and Eustace either side of her, into passing through the saloon with an appearance of being deep in conversation as she went. That they had witnessed the late encounter, she could not now doubt.
“Like everyone else, we saw him all but kidnap you,” said Eustace, confirming her thought. “It could not but set up speculation in the public mind.”
“If you think I care what anyone—”
“Ah, you don’t, Maidie, of course we know that. But has not Delagarde given everyone to understand he cares?”
A pulse began to beat in Maidie’s throat, and she stared at him. “Delagarde—cares?”
The thin smile spread mockery over Eustace’s countenance. “About what people may think of you.”
Maidie felt herself go hot, and avoided the cold understanding of his gaze. He had hit upon precisely the burden of Delagarde’s complaint. Had their whole argument been overheard? She tried to gather her self-command. Stupid to allow this creature’s unkind hints to discompose her. She looked instead at Adela.
“What is this about?”
“Consider it a cousinly warning.” Adela smiled in a way which made Maidie itch to slap her. “You cannot be aware of the truth about Delagarde’s intentions, or you would not have remained in his house.”
A sense of bewilderment began to creep over Maidie. What were they implying? She looked from one to the other. “I do not understand you.”
Eustace tutted. “Do you not, poor Maidie? And you are usually so quick of wit.”
