"I told Lady Bassett yesterday evening," he went on. "Didn't she say anything to you?"
"Oh, yes. She kissed me and said she was very pleased." Muriel's cheeks burned at the recollection.
"How nice of her!" commented Nick. He shot her a sidelong glance. "Dear Lady Bassett always says and does the right thing at the right moment. It's her speciality. That's why we are all so fond of her."
Muriel made no response, though keenly aware of the subtlety of this speech. So Nick disliked her hostess also. She wondered why.
"You see," he proceeded presently, "it is as well to be quite open about it as we are going to be married so soon. Of course every one realises that it is to be a strictly private affair. You needn't be afraid of any demonstration."
It was not that that had induced her feeling of dismay, but she could not tell him so.
"And Mrs. Musgrave knows?" she questioned.
"I told her first," said Nick. "But you mustn't mind her. She won't commit the fashionable blunder of congratulating you."
Muriel laughed nervously. She longed to say something careless and change the subject, but she was feeling stiff and unnatural, and words failed her.
Nick brought his horse up close to hers.