She looked startled, as she had done on first meeting him.
“I’ve had to go down and see my mother, and I’ve been to Richmond to see my sister,” she answered rather shortly. “And you, have you been away yet?”
“Yes, I was at Brighton last week.”
“Brighton?” She glanced at him quickly.
“I called upon Mrs. Davison, in the hope of seeing you, Miss Rachel,” said he boldly. “I had previously called at Lady Jennings’ house—”
“So I heard,” cut in Miss Davison with a frown. “I was rather surprised to hear it.”
Gerard, determined to go through with the business now that he had made the plunge, summoned all his courage, and said—
“I hope you were not angry with me for calling.”
“Why did you do it?” asked Miss Davison sharply.
Once more he gathered together all his courage, and replied more boldly than before, as he came a step nearer and put his hand on the side of the victoria.