“No,” said Miss Grantham resolutely. “Nothing would induce me to accept a farthing from that man! Besides, he assured me his offer was no longer open to my acceptance, and I am convinced he meant it. I think he is going to try to worst me by some other means.”
“Good heavens!” cried her ladyship, aghast. “Never say so, my love! He might set about to ruin us! He would be the most dangerous enemy!”
“So am I a dangerous enemy,” retorted Miss Grantham. “He will soon find that out! Whatever he does, I shall counter with something worse.”
Lady Bellingham moaned, and tottered to her dressing table to fortify herself with hartshorn-and-water. Her hand shook quite pitiably as she poured the drops into her glass, and she again gave it as her opinion that her niece was mad. “Some dreadful fate will befall us!” she prophesied. “I know it. It is flying in the face of Providence to throw everything to the winds, as you are bent on doing! And I will tell you something else, Deb, though I dare say you won’t care for that any more than for the rest. It is all over town that Ormskirk is done-up. Beverley told me last night that he had had some deep doings these last months, and the cards running against him five nights out of seven. And we know how badly that odious horse of his did at Newmarket! Ten to one, he will call in that mortgage, for you know his estates are entailed! And all you will do is to talk of countering Ravenscar! The very man you should have made a push to turn into a friend instead of an enemy!”
“I make a friend of that man?” exclaimed Miss Grantham, flushing hotly. “I will starve rather!”
“Very well, my love, I am sure I do not wish to interfere with you, but I don’t want to starve!” said her ladyship indignantly.
“I won’t let you, ma’am. If we were to be faced with that, I would—I would make a bargain with Ormskirk! I would do anything rather than be beholden to Ravenscar!”
“Well, if you would do anything, you had better send that Laxton child home, and make sure of Mablethorpe.”
“Oh, poor Adrian, no!” said Miss Grantham quickly.
Lady Bellingham sank into a chair, and closed her eyes. “Go away!” she begged faintly. “I shall have the vapours in a minute!”