“To England?” She turned and looked at him. “Oh, in Lord Milborough’s yacht! Did Colonel Martyn tell you that was discussed?”
The name of Lord Milborough pricked him. He replied that his information came from Dr Scott, and went on to say that he had lately seen Lord Milborough’s sister.
“Lady Fanny? Is she like her brother?”
“To know that, you must describe him. I have not the honour of his acquaintance.”
She smiled.
“I never describe friends, only generalise. I am in love with his yacht. We were on board this afternoon. To-morrow you must come for a little sail.”
“Thanks. I mean to stick pretty close to this house.”
Anne seemed not to have heard this rejection of her offer. She leaned back, her eyes fixed on her hands, clasped lightly on her lap. Wareham’s look followed hers, to see whether her rings told a story, and read none. Presently she said reflectively—
“It would be difficult to get sufficiently fast hold of Lord Milborough to describe him. Where did you meet his sister?”
For some reason the question was not welcome. He answered, however, without hesitation—