“Miss Taverner,” he replied, the smile dancing in his eyes again, “I prophesy that you will become the rage.”
She shook her head. “How can you think it, sir?”
He rose. “Why, I don’t think it, ma’am. I am sure of it. Every eye is even now upon you. You have held me in conversation for close on half an hour.” He made his bow. “I may do myself the honour of calling on you?”
“We shall be glad, sir.”
“I wonder?” he said with a quizzical look, and moved away to where Lord Alvanley was standing against the wall.
Miss Taverner became aware of Mrs. Scattergood at her elbow, in a twitter of excitement. “My love, what did he say to you? Tell me at once!”
Judith turned. “Say to me?” she repeated, bewildered. “He asked if he might call on us, and—”
“Judith! You don’t mean it? Oh, was ever anything so—Well! And you was talking for ever! Pray, what else was said?”
Judith looked at her in a good deal of surprise. “But what can it signify, ma’am?”
Mrs. Scattergood gave a suppressed shriek. “Mercy on us! You hold Mr. Brummell by your side for half an hour and then ask me what it can signify!”