With an effort she kept her pose. His words hummed through her head.
"Did you say that to Janie Iver?" she mustered coolness to ask him mockingly.
He thrust away the taunt with a motion of his hand; one of Gainsborough's gimcracks fell smashed on the floor. Cecily laughed, glad of the excuse to seem at her ease.
"Hang the thing! If you'd loved me, you'd have been ashamed to do it."
"I was ashamed without loving you, Cousin Harry."
"Oh, do drop 'Cousin' Harry!"
"Well, I proposed to. But you wouldn't." Her only refuge now was in quips and verbal victories. They served her well, for Harry, less master of himself than usual, was hindered and tripped up by them. "Still, if we ever meet again, I'll say 'Harry' if you like."
"Of course we shall meet again." She surprised that out of him.
"It'll be so awkward for me now," she laughed lightly. But her mirth broke off suddenly as he came closer and stood over her.