"Just what I was about to remark, my dear."
"Don't alarm yourselfl I have no notion of throwing poor Lucy at his head, I assure you. But I shall own myself surprised if he does not take a liking to her."
"I perceive," said the Earl, faintly amused, "that life in Brussels is going to be even more interesting than I had expected."
Chapter Two
When Judith, on setting out for Lady Charlotte Greville's evening party, desired Worth to direct the coachman to call at Mr Fisher's for the purpose of picking up Miss Devenish, she could not help looking a little conscious. She avoided his ironic gaze, but when he settled himself beside her, and the carriage moved forward over the pave, said defensively: "Really, it is not remarkable that I should take Lucy with me."
"Certainly not," agreed Worth. "I made no remark."
"Mrs Fisher does not like to go into company, you know, and the poor child would be very dull if no one offered to escort her."
"Very true."
Judith cast a smouldering glance at his profile. "I do not think," she said, "that I have ever met so provoking a person as you."
He smiled, but said nothing, and upon the carriage's drawing up presently in front of a respectable-looking house in one of the quiet streets off the Place Royale, got down to hand his wife's protegee into the carriage.She did not keep him waiting for many seconds, but came out of the house, escorted by her uncle, a little stout man of cheerful vulgarity who bowed very low to the Earl, and uttered profuse thanks and protestations. He was answered with the cool civility of a stranger, but Lady Worth, leaning forward, said everything that was kind, enquired after Mrs Fisher, who had lately been confined to the house by a feverish cold, and engaged herself to take good care of Miss Devenish.