‘No, boy. Not that, though it weighs also in the scale.’
‘Because of what he did to Léonie, then?’
‘Because of what he did to my infant,’ softly echoed his Grace. ‘Yes, child.’
‘There’s more to this than meets the eye,’ said Rupert with conviction.
‘Much more,’ agreed his Grace. The unaccustomed harshness went from his face, and left it inscrutable as ever. ‘Remind me, boy, that I owe you a diamond pin. It was a single stone, I think, of a peculiar beauty?’
‘Ay, you gave it me, years ago.’
‘I wonder what can have possessed me?’ said his Grace. ‘No doubt you were – er – “basking in the sunshine of my approval”.’
Twenty-three
Mr Marling Allows Himself to be Persuaded
Lady Fanny partook of breakfast in bed next morning, and was sipping her hot chocolate when Léonie scratched on the door. My lady put up her hands to her pretty nightcap and patted her golden curls before she called ‘Come in!’
‘Oh, ’tis you, child! Mercy, are you riding out so early?’
Léonie was in riding dress, with polished boots, and leathern gauntlets, tasselled, and a big black beaver on her head with a long feather that swept her shoulder.
‘Yes, madame, but only if you do not need me. Monseigneur said that I must ask you.’
Lady Fanny nibbled at a sweet biscuit and regarded the bed-post with rapt interest.
‘No, child, no. Why should I need you? Lud, what roses you have; I’d give my best necklet for your complexion. To be sure, I had it once. Go, my love. Don’t keep Justin waiting. Is Rupert up?’
‘His valet dresses him, madame.’
‘I’ll bear him company in the parlour,’ said her ladyship, and pushed her cup and saucer away. ‘Away with you, child! Stay! Send Rachel to me, my love, if you will be so good.’
Léonie went with alacrity. Half an hour later my lady, having bustled exceedingly, came tripping into the parlour dressed in a flowered muslin, and her fair hair unpowdered beneath a becoming cap. Rupert looked up as she entered, and put down the book over which he had been yawning.
‘Lord, you’re up early, Fan!’
‘I came to bear you company,’ she cooed, and went to sit by him, at the window.
‘Wonders’ll never cease,’ Rupert said. He felt that this amiability on Fanny’s part ought not to go unrewarded. ‘You look twenty this morning, Fan, ’pon my soul you do!’ he said handsomely.
‘Dear Rupert! Do you really think so?’
‘Ay – that’ll do, though! Léonie has gone riding with his Grace.’
‘Rupert,’ said my lady.
‘Ay, what?’
Fanny looked up.
‘I have made up my mind to it Justin shall marry that child.’
Rupert was unperturbed.
‘Will he, do you think?’