Sir Richard, who had so far allowed himself to be borne along resistless on the tide of this adventure, began to perceive that it would shortly be his duty to wait upon Lady Luttrell, and to give her an account of his dealings with Miss Creed. He glanced at that young lady, serenely finishing the last of the raspberries, and reflected, with a wry smile, that the task was not going to be an easy one.
A servant came in to clear away the dishes presently. Pen at once engaged him in conversation and elicited the news that Sir Jasper Luttrell was away from home.
“Oh! But not Mr Piers Luttrell?”
“No, sir, I saw Mr Piers yesterday. Going to Keynsham, he was. I do hear as he has a young gentleman staying with him—a Lunnon gentleman, by all accounts.”
“Oh!” Pen’s voice sounded rather blank. As soon as the man had gone away, she said: “Did you hear that, sir? It makes it just a little awkward, doesn’t it?”
“Very awkward,” agreed Sir Richard. “It seems as though we have now to eliminate the gentleman from London.”
“I wish we could. For I am sure my aunt will guess that I have come home, and if she finds me before I have found Piers, I am utterly undone.”
“But she will not find you. She will only find me.”
“Do you think you will be able to fob her off?”
“Oh, I think so!” Sir Richard said negligently. “After all, she would scarcely expect you to be travelling in my company, would she? I hardly think she will demand to see my nephew.”