Harriet clasped her hands together. “I had not thought that he had been alone with her, Gilly, but I have been questioning the servants, and it seems that when he would not go to Lady Ombersley’s party with us, saying that he was engaged with some friends of his own, he spent the evening here, with Belinda. But I do not believe the mischief was concerted between them then! Belinda was very unhappy, you know, when you told us how you had been unable to find Mr. Mudgley—”
“I have found him,” he interrupted.
“Oh, Gilly, no! When she may have gone off with Charlie! It makes it worse! What shall we do?”
“I am going after them. I came only to discover if you knew more than I do, and to inform you that I have received a communication from your brother, apprising me of the event. Obliging of him!”
She winced at this, but the Dowager thumped her cane on the floor, and ejaculated: “Are you crazy, Sale? Let me tell you that you are well rid of the girl! My grandson will know better how to deal with her! I wonder you will concern yourself in this ridiculous fashion over such Haymarket-ware! I knew her for what she was the instant I clapped eyes on her!”
“Grandmama, it is only since she had the misfortune to break your Sevres bowl that you have thought so!” said Harriet pleadingly.
“You are wrong, ma’am,” said the Duke. “She is not yet Haymarket-ware, and I do not mean her to become so.”
This put the old lady out of all patience, and she delivered herself of a scathing denunciation of the namby-pamby behaviour of the present generation. Since her tongue was always salted, and never more so than when she lost her temper, she brought hot blushes to her granddaughter’s cheeks. The Duke, however, heard her out with chill civility, bowing slightly when she stopped for want of breath, and turning to address his betrothed. “You do not know when Belinda, left this house, my love?”
“No, for no one saw her, but I think it cannot have been very long since. It was the unluckiest thing that I was obliged to go with Grandmama to Monkton Combe, for we have been away from the house since noon. Whimple has told us that Gaywood was here shortly after we drove away, and I fear that it must have been then that he—that the mischief was planned. You know how it is when Belinda is not quite happy, Gilly! She cries, and she looks so very lovely—not in the least like other people!—and poor Charlie must have been led astray, and have offered to take care of her, without, perhaps thinking—”
“Nonsense, Harriet!” the Duke said. “It was not Gaywood that was led astray!”