“I found, upon enquiry, that the only person who is inclined to regard him favourably is my head groom, who says that his way with the horses is quite remarkable. It appears that he has been for ever slipping off to the stables, where, for a wonder, he comports himself unexceptionably. Wrexham was so much impressed by finding him—er—hobnobbing with a bay stallion generally thought to be extremely dangerous, that he came up to represent to me the propriety of handing the boy over to him to train. He is a childless man, and since he expressed his willingness to house Jemmy, I thought it better to fall in with his schemes. I hardly think Jemmy’s language will shock him, and I am encouraged to hope, from what I know of Wrexham, that he will know how to keep the boy in order.”
Arabella approved so heartily of this arrangement, that he took the risk of saying in a melancholy tone: “Yes, but if it succeeds, I shall be at a loss to think of a pretext for getting you to drive out with me.”
“Dear me, have I shown myself so reluctant?” said Arabella, raising her eyebrows. “I wonder why you will talk so absurdly, Mr. Beaumaris? You may depend upon it that I shall take care to be seen every now and then in your company, for I cannot be so sure of my credits to run the risk of having it said that the Nonpareil has begun to find me a dead bore!”
“You stand in no such danger, Miss Tallant, believe me.” He drew in his horses for a sharp bend in the road, and did not speak again until the corner was negotiated. Then he said: “I am afraid that you deem me a very worthless creature, ma’am. What am I to do to convince you that I can be perfectly sensible?”
“There is not the least need: I am sure that you can,” she replied amicably.
After that she became interested in the countryside, and from that passed to her forthcoming presentation. This event was to take place in the following week, and already her dress had been sent home from the skilful costumier who had altered an old gown of Lady Bridlington’s to the present mode. Miss Tallant did not tell Mr. Beaumaris that, naturally, but she did describe its magnificence to him, and found him both sympathetic and knowledgeable. He asked her what jewels she would wear with it, and she replied, in a very grand way: “Oh, nothing but diamonds!” and was promptly ashamed of herself for having said it, although it was perfectly true.
“Your taste is always excellent, Miss Tallant. Nothing could be more displeasing to a fastidious eye than a profusion of jewelry. I must congratulate you on having exerted so beneficial an influence over your contemporaries.”
“I?” she gasped, quite startled, and half-suspecting him of quizzing her.
“Certainly. The total lack of ostentation which characterizes your appearance is much admired, I assure you, and is beginning to be copied.”
“You cannot be serious!”