This reflection upon his past career Mr. Beaumaris bore with an unmoved countenance. “Just so, Miss Tallant,” he said gravely. “Now, it occurs to me that, tomorrow being Wednesday, there will be a gala night at Vauxhall Gardens.”
“Yes, Lady Bridlington thought at one time of taking me to it,” agreed Arabella. “But then, you know, she recalled that it is the night of the party at Uxbridge House.”
“A very dull affair, I have no doubt. I shall invite Lady Bridlington—and Bridlington, I suppose—to do me the honour of joining my party at Vauxhall. You will naturally be included in this invitation, and at a convenient moment during the course of the evening, we shall slip away together to the street entrance, where my chaise will be awaiting us.”
Arabella considered this proposition, and discovered two objections to it. “Yes, but how very odd it would seem to Lady Bridlington if you were to go away in the middle of your own party!”
The reflection that Lady Bridlington might well deem this eccentricity the least odd feature of the affair Mr. Beaumaris kept to himself. He said: “Very true. A note shall be delivered to her after our departure.”
“Well, I suppose that would be better than nothing,” Arabella conceded. “Oh, will she ever forgive me for treating her so?” This involuntary exclamation seemed to escape her without her knowledge. She raised the second of her objections, “And in any event it will not answer, because I cannot take a valise to Vauxhall!”
“That you will also leave to me,” said Mr. Beaumaris.
“But you cannot call in Park Street to fetch it!” she pointed out.
“Certainly not.”
“And I will not elope without a change of clothes, or my hairbrushes, or my tooth-powder!” declared Arabella.