“Very well, sir, and what is this reason? Do you m-mean to tell me?”
His mouth quivered responsively. “I admit you have me there, Horry. I don’t mean to tell you.”
She said stormily: “Indeed, my lord? You won’t tell me w-why, and yet you expect me to cast off R-Robert!”
“I confess it does sound a trifle arbitrary,” admitted his lordship ruefully. “The story, you see, is not entirely mine. But even though I am unable to divulge it the reason is a sufficient one.”
“V-vastly interesting,” said Horatia. “It is a p-pity I can’t judge for myself, for I must tell you, sir, that I have no n-no-tion of deserting my friends only b-because a creature like your horrid c-cousin says odious things about me!”
“Then I very much fear that I shall have to take steps to enforce this particular command,” said the Earl imperturbably.
She rejoined hotly: “You c-can’t c-coerce me into obeying you, my lord!”
“What a very ugly word, my dear!” remarked the Earl. “I am sure I have never coerced anyone.”
She felt a little baffled. “Pray, what do you m-mean to do, sir?”
“Dear Horry, surely I told you? I mean to put an end to the intimacy between you and Robert Lethbridge.”