She laughed. “W-well, if I don’t m-mind, why should you?”
“That is rather different,” Lethbridge replied. “You see, you are—if you will let me say so—very young.”
“D-do you mean that I am too young to b-be a friend of yours?”
“No, that is not what I mean. You are too young to be allowed to do—unwise things, my dear.”
She looked inquiring. “W-would it be unwise of me to know you?”
“In the eyes of the world, certainly it would.”
“I d-don’t give a fig for the world!” declared Horatia roundly.
He stretched out his hand to take hers, and kissed her fingers. “You are—a very charming lady,” he said. “But were you and I to call friends, ma’am, the world would talk, and the world must not talk about my Lady Rule.”
“Why should people think odious things about you?” asked Horatia, indignation in her voice.
A sigh escaped him. “Unfortunately, ma’am, I have made for myself a most shocking reputation and once one has done that there is no being rid of it. Now I feel quite sure that your excellent brother told you to have naught to do with Lethbridge. Am I right?”