“But the chances of death at nineteen are admittedly small,” said the Earl.
“Oh, y’never know!” said the Colonel cheerfully. “Better tie her up quick, before another gets her. There’s Browne, now. He could do with a rich wife, I daresay.”
“If you mean Delabey Browne, I was under the impression that he came into a legacy not so long ago,” replied the Earl.
“Yes,” agreed Lord Alvanley mournfully, “but the stupid fellow muddled the whole fortune away paying tradesmen’s bills.” He nodded to his companion. “Come, Colonel, are you ready?”
They rode off together, and Worth went back into the house. It seemed that the Colonel had reason on his side, for within the space of one fortnight his lordship received no less than three applications for permission to solicit Miss Taverner’s hand in marriage.
The day after he had politely refused his consent to the third aspirant Miss Taverner received a letter by the twopenny post. It was quite short.
“The Earl of Worth presents his compliments to Miss Taverner and begs to inform her that he would be obliged if she would assure any gentleman aspiring to her hand that there is no possibility of his lordship consenting to her marriage within the period of his guardianship.”
Justly incensed, Miss Taverner sat herself down at her elegant little tambour-top writing-table and dashed off an impetuous note, requesting the favour of a visit from his lordship in the immediate future. This she had sent off by hand. A reply in Mr. Blackader’s neat fist informed her that his lordship being upon the point of setting out to spend the weekend at Woburn he was commissioned to tell her that his lordship would do himself the honour of calling in Brook Street some time during the following week.
Miss Taverner tore this civil letter up in a rage. To be obliged to bottle up her wrath at Worth’s daring to refuse all her suitors (none of whom she had the smallest desire to marry) without consulting her wishes, for as much as three days, and very likely more, was so insupportable that she could not face the week-end with any degree of composure.
However, it was not so very bad. A card-party on Saturday helped to pass the time, and Sunday brought her a new and rather awe-inspiring acquaintance.