“Merciful heavens, what have you done that you had to leave England?” cried Miss Marling.
“Shot a man in a duel. But that’s not important. The fair sister was to have come with me, but this one got wind of it and took her place to save her.”
“I expect she wanted you herself,” said the sceptical Miss Marling.
“She don’t want me; she’s too strait-laced. I didn’t discover the cheat till Newhaven was reached. The girl thought to make me believe Sophia had planned the trick. I did believe it.” He frowned down at the fan he still held. “You know what I’m like when I lose my cursed temper, Ju?” Miss Marling shuddered dramatically. “Well, I did lose it. I forced the girl to come aboard the Albatross, and brought her over to France. At Dieppe, I discovered the mistake I’d made. She was no Sophia, but a lady, and virtuous to boot.”
“I’ll be bound she enjoyed it prodigiously for all that,” sighed Miss Marling. “I should.”
“I dare say,” said his lordship crushingly, “but this girl is not a minx. There’s nothing for it but to marry her. I want to do that as quickly as may be, and until I can arrange it I want you to befriend her.”
“Vidal, I never, never thought that you would turn romantic!” said Miss Marling. “Tell me her name at once!”
“Challoner — Mary Challoner,” replied the Marquis.
She fairly leaped up from the couch. “Mary! What, my own dear Mary, who left school and was never more heard of? Dominic, you wicked, abominable creature! Where is she? If you’ve frightened her, I vow I’ll never speak to you again!”
“Frightened her?” he said. “Frightened Miss Challoner? Don’t you know her better than that? She’s the coolest woman that ever I met.”