Caroline delayed so long that it was Miss Vanbrugh who first made Lady Alistair’s acquaintance.
She drove to the Cooperage in her father’s carriage at the fashionable hour of the afternoon, walked up the yard without noticing its inmates, except by a nod in passing, and knocked at the bright green door.
It was opened by Alistair himself, who could not restrain an exclamation of pleasure.
“Is Lady Alistair at home?” Hero asked smilingly.
“You have come to call on her? That is good of you! She is upstairs; I will fetch her down.”
Hero detained him by a gesture, as she whispered swiftly:
“Don’t tell her that it is good of me. Don’t praise me to her at all. And leave us together.”
Alistair understood. He placed Hero in one of the Cromwellian armchairs, and went upstairs wearing a look of indifference.
He found Molly seated on her bed, looking very fierce and flushed. Her ladyship had inspected the visitor from overhead through the window, and immediately prepared for battle.
“Who is she?” she demanded.