Nor did his sisters like it when they heard of it. “Given you five thousand pounds to pay your debts?” cried Charlotte. “I never heard of such a thing!”
“No more did I,” agreed Pelham. “Thought for a moment the man was queer in his head, but he don’t seem to be.”
“Pel, I do think perhaps you might have waited,” Elizabeth said rather reproachfully. “It seems almost—almost indecent.”
“And it will all go on gaming,” said Charlotte.
“Devil a penny of it, miss, so that’s all you know,” replied the Viscount without rancour.
“Why n-not?” inquired Horatia bluntly. “It usually d-does.”
Her brother threw her a look of scorn. “Lord, Horry, if a man trusts you with a cool five thousand to pay your debts, there’s no more to be said.”
“I suppose,” said Charlotte waspishly, “Lord Rule requires to see your accounts.”
“I’ll tell you what it is, Charlotte,” the Viscount informed her, “if you don’t sweeten that tongue of yours you’ll never get a husband.”
Elizabeth intervened rather hastily. “Will it meet them all, Pel?”