“It is not your fault,” she said. “I was never so taken aback in my life!”
“It was my fault,” Ravenscar said. “I had the means to stop it, and I was fool enough not to use them.”
She stared at him. “Good heavens, Max, you never said a word to me about it! Do you tell me you knew all along what he really meant to do?”
He came to the fire, and stood with his back to it, looking down at her with a puzzled frown. “I don’t understand you, ma’am. Surely we both knew?”
“But I never knew of the girl’s existence until today!” cried Lady Mablethorpe, in the liveliest astonishment.
“Never knew of her existence?” he repeated blankly. “What in God’s name are you talking about, aunt?”
“I am talking about this child whom Adrian says he has married! What are you talking about, pray?”
“Child! Am I mad, or are you?” demanded Ravenscar. “Adrian has married Deborah Grantham!”
“But he has not!” said her ladyship. “He has married one of the Laxton girls!”
“What?” thundered Ravenscar.