“My dear child! What was he thinking of? Men are not what they were, or is it the women who are different? They haven’t the charm! They haven’t the old charm! My difficulty was always to get rid of the creatures. I’m disappointed in you, Henrietta.”
“But he’s married,” Henrietta said gravely. “I only needed him on the dark roads and I should think he wanted to go back to Mrs. Sales.”
“It would be the first time, then,” Caroline said.
“Why, isn’t he fond of her?”
“Don’t ask dangerous questions, child—and would you be fond of her yourself?”
“She’s very pretty.”
“Now, Caroline, don’t,” Sophia begged.
Caroline chuckled. “Don’t what?”
“Say what you were going to say.”
Caroline chuckled again. “I can’t help it. My tongue won’t be tied. I’m like all the Malletts—”