“Very likely,” said Lady Bellingham in a despondent tone. “But there’s no denying he would look very well in Hussar uniform, and I never did like his being in that horrid line regiment. Only where the money is to come from I don’t know!”
“Kit can’t exchange. It would be absurd! You must explain to him that it is impossible.”
“But I promised poor dear Wilfred I would always look after his children!” said Lady Bellingham tragically.
“So you have, dearest Aunt Lizzie,” said Deborah warmly. “We have never been anything but a shocking charge on you!”
“I am sure no one ever had a better nephew and niece. And if you won’t have Mablethorpe, I dare say someone richer will offer for you.”
Miss Grantham looked down at her shapely hands. “Lord Ormskirk is making very precise offers, aunt.”
Lady Bellingham picked up the haresfoot, and began to powder her face in an agitated way. “There you are, then. If only you would have Mablethorpe, there would be an end to Ormskirk’s pretensions! I can’t deny, Deb, that we are very awkwardly situated there. Don’t, for heaven’s sake, quarrel with the man! I daresay he would clap us up in a debtors’ prison in the blink of an eye!”
“How much money do we owe Ormskirk?” asked Deborah, raising her clear gaze to her aunt’s face.
“My love, don’t ask me! I had never the least head for figures! There’s that odious mortgage on the house, for one thing. I have been quite misled! I made sure we should make a great deal of money, if only we could set up in a modish establishment. But what with green peas, and two free suppers every night, not to mention all that champagne and claret, and the faro-bank’s being broke twice in one week, I’m sure it is a wonder we can still open our doors! And now what must you do, my love, but play piquet with Ravenscar; not that I blame you, for I am sure you did the right thing, and if only he may be induced to try his hand at faro it will have been worth the outlay. Did he seem pleased, my dear?”
“I don’t know,” answered Deborah candidly. “He is a strange creature. I had the oddest feeling that he did not like me, but he chose to play with me all the evening.”