“Lady Ada has offered to be one of my bride-maids,” she said.
His hands tightened on his reins, and his brows darkened.
“Lady Ada?” he said. “Why did she do that?—I mean, it was very kind of her.”
“Yes,” she said, innocently. “But why were you surprised?”
“I don’t know,” he said, evasively. “It was a stupid speech. Most girls like to play the part; she will play it very well.”
When she got home, she told Lady Wyndover, and that lady was thrown into a state of mild excitement.
“We could manage it in three weeks,” she said. “But not a day less. I must see Cerise at once.”
Esmeralda laughed.
“I hope you are not going to order a great many more dresses,” she said. “I’ve more now than I can wear, and Barker doesn’t know what to do with them; she says every place is choked up.”
“There will be plenty of room for them at Belfayre,” said Lady Wyndover, with a sigh of profound satisfaction. “Of course, you will live there. The duke is an old man, and will be glad to have you and Trafford with him. He is so fond of you, dear. Of course, I don’t know what plans you’ve made about the honey-moon, but you might spend it at that pretty little place of mine in Surrey. You haven’t seen it yet. It really is a charming place; quite a box, of course; but it will be quite large enough for you two. I think it’s a mistake for a newly married couple to go to a big house, with a mob of servants; they want to be alone, to moon about, and all that. But, perhaps, you would like to go on the Continent.”