“They were very confidential together. I noticed them often for Kitty’s sake.”
“I do wish, Squire, that you would leave Kitty’s love-affairs alone.”
“That I will not, Maude. If I have any business now, it is to pay attention to them. I have taken your ‘let-alone’ plan, far too long. My girl shall not be courted in any such underhand, mouse-in-the-corner way. Her engagement to Lord Exham must be publicly acknowledged, or else broken entirely off.”
“The man loves Kate. He will do right to her.”
“Loves Kate! Very good. But what of the Other One? He cannot do right to both.”
“Yes, he can. Their claims are different. You may depend on that. Kate is the love of his soul; the Other One is like a sister.”
“I do not trust either Piers or the Other One–and I wish she would give me my ring.”
“You do not certainly know that she has your ring.”
“I will ask her to let me see it.”
“Now, John Atheling, you will meddle with things that concern you, and let other things alone. It may be your duty to interfere about your daughter. You may insist on having her recognised as the future Duchess of Richmoor,–it will be a feather in your own cap; you may say to the Duke, you must accept my daughter, or I will–”