Horatia paid no heed to this, beyond remarking that it was ten to one the gentleman was a stranger.
“You don’t like d-dancing, Robert, you know you d-don’t! And I do want to try my skill against you.”
“Too ambitious, Horry,” he teased. “I was playing cards when you were sewing samplers. And I’ll wager I was playing better than you sewed.”
“L-Lizzie used to finish all my samplers for me,” admitted Horatia. “But I p-play cards much better than I sew, I assure you. R-Robert, why won’t you?”
“Do you think I would fleece so little a lamb?” he asked. “I haven’t the heart!”
She tilted her chin. “P-perhaps I should f-fleece you, sir!” she said.
“Yes—if I let you,” he smiled. “And of course I undoubtedly should.”
“L-let me win?” said Horatia indignantly. “I am n-not a baby, sir! If I play, I play in earnest.”
“Very well,” said Lethbridge. “I will play you—in earnest.”
She clapped her hands together, causing the man in the next box to glance round at her. “You w-will?”