"Nearly always," he amended.
"Disagreeable man! You admit you had lapses then?"
"So very trivial, my dear," he excused himself. "And I swear my firstaction on coming to London was to call at Wyncham House. Imagine mydisappointment--my incalculable gloom (on the top of having alreadydropped a thousand at faro) when I found the shell void, and Venus--"
She stopped him, her fan held ready for chastisement.
"Sir! You said your _first_ action was to call upon me!"
He smiled, shaking back his curls.
"I should have said: my first action of any importance."
"You do not deem losing a thousand guineas important?" she askedwistfully.
"Well--hardly. One must enjoy life, and what's a thousand, after all? Ihad my pleasure out of it."
"Yes!" she breathed, her eyes sparkling. "That is how I think! Whatpleasure can one get if one neither hazards nor spends one's money? Oh,well!" She shrugged one shoulder, dismissing the subject.
"Have you seen Tracy of late?"
"He was at a court ball I attended at Versailles, but I did not have achance of speaking with him. I heard he was very popular at Paris."
"Ay!" she said proudly. "He has the French air.... I so desire to seehim again, but I fear he does not think of returning. I know he waspromised for the Duchess of Devonshire's rout months ago--before eventhe date was fixed, she so dotes on him--but I do not expect to see himthere." She sighed and drummed on the ground with her diamond-buckledshoe. "Harry, I am chilled! Take me to the Pavilion! I doubt they aredancing--and Dicky will be there."
"Dicky?" he repeated. "Dicky! Lavinia, do not tell me there is anotherclaimant to your heart?"
"Wicked, indelicate creature! 'Tis my husband!"
"Your _husband_! Enfin--"
She cast him a sidelong glance of mingled coquetry and reproof.
"Your mind is at rest again, I trust?"
"Of course! A husband? Pooh, a bagatelle, no more!"
"My husband is not a bagatelle!" she laughed. "I am very fond of him."
"This grows serious," he frowned. "'Tis very unfashionable, surely?"
She met his teasing eyes and cast down her lashes.
"Captain Lovelace, you may take me to the Pavilion."
"Sweet tormentor, not until you cease so to misname me."
"Harold, I am indeed chilly!" she said plaintively and snatched her handfrom his lips. "No, no! People will stare--look, there is my odiousbrother returning! I declare I will not stay to listen to his hateful,sneering remarks!... Come!"
They walked across the grass together, keeping up a running fire ofraillery, punctuated on his side by extravagant compliments filled withclassical allusions, all more or less erroneous, and on hers bydelighted little laughs and mock scoldings. So they came to thePavilion, where the musicians fiddled for those who wished to dance, andwhere most of the company had assembled now that it was growing chillywithout. Down one end of the hall, card-tables were set out, wheremembers of both sexes diced and gambled, drinking glasses of burgundy ornegus, the men toasting the ladies, and very often the ladies returningthe toasts with much archness and low curtseying.
Lavinia cast off her _capuchin_ and plumed her feathers, giving asurreptitious shake to her ruched skirts and smoothing her ruffles. Sherustled forward with great stateliness, fan unfurled, head held high,her gloved fingers resting lightly on Lovelace's velvet-clad arm.Richard, hearing the little stir caused by her entry, glanced up, andperceived her. He did not recognise her companion, but the sparkle inher eyes and the happy curve to her full lips were quite enough to tellhim that it was someone whom she was very contented t
o have met. He hadample opportunity for studying Lovelace as the good-looking pair drewnear, and he could not but admire the delicate, handsome face with thegrey eyes that held a laugh in them, the pleasure-loving, well-curvedmouth, and the chin that spoke of determination. Here was not one ofLavinia's lisping, painted puppy-dogs, for in spite of the effeminatecurls, it was easy to see that this man had character and a will of hisown, and, above all, a great charm of manner. He saw Lavinia blush andrap the Captain's knuckles in answer to some remark, and his heart sank.He rose and came to meet them.
Lady Lavinia smiled sweetly upon him, and patted his arm with apossessive little air.
"Dicky dear, I have found an old friend--a very old friend! Is it notagreeable? Captain Lovelace--Mr. Carstares."