“Is there any woman amongst them?” said Temperance.
“I never saw one.”
“Not even at Mr Percy’s house?”
“I went there but once, to ask for him. I have heard that he hath a wife, but she lives very privately, and teaches children. He dwelleth not with her, but hath his lodging at my Lord Northumberland’s. I never saw her.”
“That’s an ill hearing. ’Tis meet for men to come together by themselves for business: but to dwell in their own homes, and never a woman with them, wife, mother, sister, nor daughter,—that means mischief, lad. It means some business of an evil sort, that they don’t want a woman to see through. If there had been one, I went about to say, take me with thee some even to visit her. I’d have known all about it under an hour, trust me.”
“You should have seen nought, Aunt.”
“Tell that to the cowcumbers. You see nought, very like.”
Lady Louvaine laid her hand on her grandson’s.
“Aubrey, promise me at least this: that for a month to come thou wilt not visit any of these gentlemen.”
After an instant’s pause, Aubrey replied, “Very well, Madam; I am ready to promise that.”