He controlled himself with a strong effort, and after looking steadily into her face for a moment or two, raised her hand to his lips, and passionately kissed it.
A very dry voice said immediately behind them: “You will forgive me for intruding upon you, Miss Taverner, I trust.”
Miss Taverner snatched her hand away and turned. “Lord Worth I You—you startled me I”
“Evidently,” he said. “I am charged with the office of finding you. Your carriage is spoken for, and Mrs. Scattergood grows anxious.”
“Thank you. I will come at once,” she murmured. “Good night, cousin!”
“Will you not let me take you back to Mrs. Scattergood?” he asked quietly.
She shook her head. She was still sadly out of countenance, and it was quite meekly that she laid her hand on the Earl’s proffered arm, and allowed him to lead her away. Once out of earshot she managed to say, though in a very small voice: “I daresay it may have looked very particular to you, but you are quite mistaken.”
“In what?” said the Earl coldly.
“In what you are thinking!”
“If you are able to read my thoughts at this moment you must be very clever.”