“My dear Gilly, this is being foolish without permission! In plain terms, the sort of passion you have in mind has little to do with marriage. I grant that to be obliged to live with a woman whom you held in aversion would be a sad fate, but we need not consider that. You own that you are not indifferent to Lady Harriet. For a female, I believe her to have a superior understanding. Her disposition is amiable, and if you mean to object that there is a want of spirits in her I would point out to you that you have very odd humours yourself, and would find less rational comfort with a woman of more vivacity than with a quiet girl who would, I am persuaded, partake of many of your sentiments, and study to please you.”
“Oh, yes, yes!” interrupted Gilly. “But—”
Lord Lionel held up his hand. “No, listen to what I have to say to you, my boy! You think I do not enter into your feelings upon this occasion, but you are mistaken. I shall be plain with you. In Lady Harriet you will not find yourself saddled with a wife who will expect more from you than you are inclined to give. She is a very well brought-up girl; and while, on the one hand, I am satisfied that she will conduct herself, as Duchess of Sale, with propriety and discretion, she will not expect you to be always at her side. If you choose to mount a mistress, she will know how to look the other way, and you will not be obliged to face the reproaches which might be levelled at you by a woman of lesser breeding. In short, you may be assured of a well-conducted household with an amiable woman at its head, and may indulge what romantic fancies you please out of it.”
“Do you suppose, sir,” said Gilly, in an extinguished tone, “that it is with such sentiments as these that Harriet thinks of marriage with me—or—or with another?”
“I have been acquainted with Augusta Ampleforth any time these twenty years,” responded Lord Lionel readily, “and “I entertain no fears that Harriet has been allowed to fill her head with romantical stuff and nonsense. I daresay Lady Ampleforth may have some faults—”
“I have always thought her the most unfeeling woman I have ever met!” the Duke said.
“Well, well, now you are in your high ropes again! She is an ambitious woman, but she has a great deal of common-sense, after all!”
The Duke released the chairback, and took a turn about the room. He was evidently agitated, and his uncle allowed him to walk about for a few minutes before saying: “If you dislike it so very much, Gilly, you should have told me of it earlier. To draw back at this late date will be as bad as to declare off.”
The Duke turned a startled face towards him. “Oh, no, surely not!”
“It has been understood between the two families for some years, and from what I hear the announcement of your engagement is pretty widely expected.”