Fitzroy shook his head. "No chance of that. Kincaid loves Juana Smith - or so I've always fancied."
Judith said: "Is that how you feel, Sir Alexander? About Charles's engagement, I mean?"
"I beg pardon! I shouldn't have said it."
"You may say what you please. I am forced in general to be very discreet, but you are both such particular friends of Charles's that I may be allowed to speak my mind - which is that it would be better if the marriage never took place."
"Of course it would be better! There was never anything more unfortunate! We laughed at Charley when it began, but it has turned out to be no laughing matter. It was all the Prince's fault for making the introduction in the first place."
"Nonsense, Gordon! If he had not someone else would have done it. I am afraid Charles is pretty hard hit, Lady Worth."
"I am afraid so, too. I wish he were not, but what can one do?"
"One can't do anything," said Gordon. "That's the sad part of it: to be obliged to watch one of your best friends making a fool of himself."
"Do you dislike Lady Barbara?"
"No. I like her, but the thing is that I like Charley much more, and I can't see him tied to her for the rest of his life."