“I shall not go till you do, Victoria. I decline to leave you alone with Mr. Hammond again,” the marchioness said, spitefully.
“Please don’t be impressive,” was Victoria’s unkind reply. Then, turning to Hammond and speaking rapidly, she went on: “I got that amusing note of yours. I came round to tell you that of course I quite understood that it was all a joke last night. We ought not to have said anything to my mother, because she is so easily taken in, and she believed we were quite serious. But I enjoyed the fun myself very much, and I mean to make Gerald awfully jealous about you when we are married.”
The marchioness blinked her eyes as though a sword had flashed before them, as she saw herself thus shamefully discarded and her last hope gone by the board. As for Despencer, he regarded Victoria with the admiring glance of an artist for a brilliant piece of work, in a kind which he understands.
Hammond bowed gratefully.
“Lady Victoria, you can do anything you like with Mauleverer and me except make us quarrel.”
The marchioness came to herself.
“What do you mean by talking about marrying Gerald?” she demanded.
“My dear mother, I suppose we must marry some time. We have been engaged long enough.”
“Engaged!” the poor marchioness could only ejaculate.
“Well, I thought everybody in London knew that,” said Victoria, calmly. “I am sure Mr. Hammond did.”