“Most improper,” he agreed. “But am I to understand that Mr. Penicuik’s great-nephews all obeyed this peculiar summons?”
“Jack did not,” she replied. “And he knew why my uncle had sent for him, which makes me excessively glad to think that he had too much delicacy of mind to come upon such an errand!”
“The reflection must be of comfort to all his friends,” said Lord Legerwood rather dryly. “May I know if they were all aware why they were sent for?”
“Dolph and Hugh seemed to know,” she answered. “But Freddy had not the smallest suspicion of it. I daresay, you know, that if my uncle wrote in veiled terms he might not have understood what was intended.”
“More than probable. But when the matter was made plain to him I collect that he was not backward in offering for your hand?”
“No, no, you must not be thinking that he offered for me because of the fortune!” Kitty said quickly. “I assure you, it is not the case at all! You must know that he—he had not previously supposed that his suit would be acceptable to Uncle Matthew!”
Lord Legerwood looked at her for a moment; then his gaze dropped to the snuff-box he held in one hand. He flicked it open, took a delicate pinch of snuff, and said smoothly: “The—er—attachment between you is of long standing, I apprehend?”
“Yes,” said Kitty, pleased to find him so quick-witted. “We—we have always felt a—a decided partiality for each other, sir. So when he found that Uncle Matthew had pledged himself to give me to whichever of them I chose he—he was emboldened to Speak!”
Lord Legerwood dusted his finger-tips with his handkerchief, and put away his snuff-box. “Really, a most romantic story,” he remarked. “I must own I had not thought it of Freddy. How little one knows of one’s offspring after all!”
She eyed him doubtfully, but was spared the necessity of answering him by the reappearance on the scene of her betrothed. Freddy came in with the news that his mother would in a few moments arrive to welcome her guest. He had prepared a glib speech assuring Kitty of Lady Legerwood’s pleasure in the visit, but under his father’s ironic gaze he faltered a little.