The Marquis followed her to where a curtain hung over an archway, and held it back for her to pass through.
“Juliana, you minx, were you ever at a ball without finding a little room where you could be quite alone?”
“No, never,” answered Miss Marling with simple pride. Sheseated herself on a couch, and patted the place beside her invitingly. “Now tell me!”
He sat down, and began to play with her fan. “Do you recall the blonde piece you once saw me with at Vauxhall Gardens?”
She thought for a moment, then nodded. “Yes, she had blue eyes and looked stupid.”
“She was stupid. I’ve run off with her sister instead of her, and the devil’s in it, I must marry the girl.”
“What?” shrieked Miss Marling.
“If you screech again, Ju, I’ll strangle you,” said his lordship. “This is serious. The girl’s not like the one you saw. She’s a lady. You know her.”
“I don’t contradicted Miss Marling positively. “Mamma would never let me know the sort of female who would run off with you, Dominic.”
“Don’t keep interrupting!” commanded Vidal. “I meant to bring the other sister to Paris, since I had to leave England — ”