“What in the fiend’s name brings you here?” asked the Marquis, coming to her side. “There’s nothing for you to do in this coil.”
Miss Marling looked up at him defiantly. “I am coming with you.”
“The devil you are!” ejaculated his lordship. “No, my fair cousin. I don’t hamper myself with a petticoat on this journey.”
“I am coming with you,” repeated Miss Marling.
“You’re not,” said Vidal curtly, and beckoned to his groom.
Juliana caught at his wrist. “You shan’t go without me!” she said in a fierce whisper. “You only care for your odious Mary, but she has run off with my Frederick, I’ll have you know, and I’ll come if I have to hire a post-chaise and travel alone! I mean it, Vidal!”
He looked down at her frowningly. “You do, do you? I doubt you won’t relish this journey overmuch.”
“You’ll take me?” she said eagerly.
He shrugged. “I’ll take you, but if I were your husband I’d soon school you, my girl.” He handed her up somewhat urgently into the chaise, and said brusquely: “Does Tante know of this?”
“Well, she was gone out, but I felt a letter explaining as well as I could for the hurry I was in.”