“I am to buy clothes for her?” exclaimed her ladyship.
“Help her to choose ’em,” amended Freddy. “Won’t have to pay for ’em. Fact is, the old gentleman gave her a handsome sum for the purpose. Taking care of it for her. You tell me what the figure comes to, and I’ll sport the blunt.”
“Uncle Matthew gave her a handsome sum?” exclaimed his mother, momentarily diverted. “You don’t mean it!”
“Surprised me too,” murmured Freddy. “Surprised me when he said she might come to town for a month, as well.”
“A month! No, no, Freddy, indeed I cannot have her here! I would not for the world behave shabbily towards your betrothed, even though I cannot like this engagement, for I had hoped to see you make a much better match, and, indeed, I—not that that signifies now! And you are not to be thinking that I do not like Kitty, for I am sure she is a excellent girl, and I should be very glad to show her any kindness in my power! But I do not mean to entertain until the children are well again, and as for devoting myself to Kitty at such a moment, it is not to be thought of! Later, perhaps! She must return to Arnside for the present: I am persuaded she will understand how it is!”
“Won’t do at all,” said Freddy firmly. “Promised her she should spend a month in town. Can’t break my word to her. Cruel thing to do. Set her heart on coming to London.”
“Oh, dear, what is to be done, then?” sighed her ladyship, abandoning all attempt to grapple with the problem. “Where is she all this while?”
“Left her in the Blue Saloon. Said I’d break the news to you. Took a notion into her head you might not like it, and went into a quake. Wouldn’t come upstairs with me.”
“Well, I am sure I am not astonished at that! Poor child, I suppose she was so anxious to escape from that odious old man she was prepared to do anything to accomplish it! She must remain here for tonight, of course, and then we must consider what is best to be done. I will come down to her in a moment, tell her. And what your father will say when you break this news to him, Freddy, I dare not consider!”
But in the event Freddy was spared the necessity of having to break the news to Lord Legerwood. While he was closeted with his mama, his lordship had walked into the Blue Saloon, to find it inhabited by a damsel in an oldfashioned bonnet and a drab pelisse, who turned an apprehensive and vaguely familiar face towards the opening door, and then rose to her feet, and dropped a shy curtsy. “How—how-do-you-do, sir?” she said, with a valiant assumption of ease.