She stared at him. “But is it possible that you can have a tendre for the girl? I thought you had not been to Arnside above half-a-dozen times since you left school! How comes this about? I declare, you have set my poor head in such a whirl—! Heavens, what will your father say to this?”
“No reason why he should object, ma’am. Daresay he’ll be glad of it. Very good sort of a girl, Kit: always liked her!”
This lover-like encomium caused her ladyship to give a gasp. “‘A very good sort of—’ Freddy!”
“Well, ain’t she?” demanded Freddy. “Thought you was fond of her, ma’am! Often told me you pitied her, having to live cooped up with Uncle Matthew. Quite right! Never saw such an old curmudgeon in my life! What’s more, that Fish of hers seems queer in her attic to me. Shouldn’t wonder at it if between the pair of them they drove Kit into Bedlam. That’s why I brought her up to town with me.”
Lady Legerwood sat up with a jerk. “You did what? Freddy, you haven’t brought her here?”
“Thought you’d like to see her,” said Freddy feebly. “Engaged to me—present her to the family—show her the sights! Besides, nowhere else I could take her!”
Many thoughts jostled one another in Lady Legerwood’s bemused brain; she uttered the most immediate of them. “With measles in the house!”
“It’s a pity about that,” agreed Freddy. “May have had ’em, though. I’ll ask her.”
“But it is impossible,” she cried. “What in heaven’s name do you expect me to do with her?”
“First thing to do is to buy her some clothes. Can’t have her going about like a dowd. Must see that, ma’am!”