He gave her an indulgent smile, “Now, you are jesting with me again, Amanda. Are you never serious, cousin?”
“I am always serious, Alfred,” retorted Mandy, her expression unfathomable.
He narrowed his hazel eyes sharply, obviously uncertain of her meaning behind the words. “I know you have a lively mind, ‘tis why I have told father, we—you and I, should suit.”
“Really, I rather think you and Celia would make a better match of it,” Mandy said, trying to look pleasantly serious.
“Oh no, father does not at all approve of Celia, though he did once say that I would stand more of a chance chasing her than you.”
“Did he say that? Well then, I should listen to him, if I were you,” Mandy said nearly choking on the laugh she swallowed.
He waited for her to be seated and took up a chair opposite her and said casually, “I spotted Ned on my way up the drive.”
“Oh?” Mandy returned, interested, “Alone?”
“Yes, why?” he frowned with a curious gleam entering his eye.
“Did you speak with him?” Mandy pursued, ignoring his question.
“Funny thing, that. Thought he saw me too, but couldn’t have for he darted right into the thicket, away from the drive. Wouldn’t have done that if he had seen me—stands to reason.”
Again, Mandy had to choke back a giggle and said solemnly, “No, of course not Alfred,” she agreed, fully aware that was exactly what Ned would have done had he noticed Alfred coming up the drive. “So tell me, do, what brings you to Sherborne this evening.”
“You,” he replied giving her a longing look.
Amanda found his monosyllabic reply exquisitely humorous and burst into laughter. She knew her cousin was not enamored with her. His interest was purely financial. He wanted to join their two estates.
Her cousin glared at her, obviously taking affront at her under appreciation of his gallantry. His chin went up, “You find that funny?”
She dabbed at her eyes with her lace handkerchief and gazed at him, her eyes brimful with mirth, “Oh, do forgive me Alfred, but yes, yes I do.”
“I don’t exactly perceive why you should,” he retorted much peeved.
“Alfred, you know very well that ‘tis Celia you always come here looking for…not me.”
“I don’t think you understand the situation,” he said on a frown. Celia doesn’t have m’heart. She was just, well, for sport,” he said callously.
Mandy shot up to her feet. While Celia was not amongst her favorite people, she could not allow such talk in her presence, it was too unkind. “You horrid thing! Why, it would serve you right if I were to repeat that to Aunt Agatha, or to Celia herself!”
He immediately shifted nervously and tried to change the subject, “Where are Celia and Aunt Agatha?”
“I don’t know,” Mandy said coldly, again worrying about Celia and her brother and fleetingly wondering why Agatha had not joined her in the parlor as was her habit. Surely she was done eating?
“Now Amanda, you needn’t get into a huff.” He had a moment to think about her earlier threat, “And no sense saying you will go off to Aunt Agatha with what I chance to say. T’would only cause her to get into a pucker. But really, I do wonder where Celia is…I was hoping to catch her here now…”
“What do you mean?” Mandy suddenly became suspicious.
“Had this note from her, rather, m’father had this note from her requesting him to attend her tonight at precisely at seven and of all places, at the lily pond. Makes no sense. M’father was very irritated by it, said he wouldn’t go, but asked me to find out what the deuce was toward.”
“Ah, so that is why you are here,” Mandy arched a brow and gave him a bit of a smirk.
“No, no, you mistake. ‘T’isn’t yet seven,” he retorted hastily. “Hoped I’d catch her here at the house…more comfortable.”
“Then you are late,” Mandy said. “Shouldn’t you go and meet with her?” suggested Mandy wanting to be rid of him. “After all, then you can leave directly afterward and avoid getting caught up by the night and the dark…”
“Now just a moment, Amanda,” Alfred sat up straight. “Do you mean to imply that I, Alfred Speenham, might be afraid of the dark?”
“Certainly not. Are you not your father’s son?” she answered, knowing her mark, for it was a well established fact that Squire Bevis Speenham had several fears, one being about during the absence of light.