“I’ll say something else, and you may believe it! I can’t and I won’t be saddled with your racing bets, so don’t bet beyond your means!”
He waited for no answer, but went upstairs again to the drawing room, where he found his sister still seated where he had left her, weeping softly into a shred of a handkerchief. He tossed his own into her lap. “If you must be a watering pot, take mine!” he recommended. “Are satisfied? You should be! It is not every girl who can boa of having rejected a man like Charlbury!”
“I do not boast of it!” she retorted, firing up. “But I nothing for wealth and position! Where my affections not engaged — ”
“You might care for worth of character, however! You , could search England without finding a better fellow, Cecilia., Don’t flatter yourself you have found one in your poet! I wish you may not live to regret this day’s work.”
“I am aware that Lord Charlbury has every amiable quality,” she said, in, a subdued voice, and mopping her wet cheeks with his handkerchief. “Indeed, I believe him to be the finest gentleman of my acquaintance, and if I am crying it is from sorrow at having been obliged to wound him!”
He walked over to the window and stood looking out into the square. “It is useless now to remonstrate with you. After your announcement last night it is not very likely that Charlbury would desire to marry you. What do you mean to do? I may tell you now that my father will not consent to your marriage with Fawnhope.”
“Because you will not let him consent! Can you not be content, Charles, with making a marriage of convenience yourself, without wishing me to do the same?” she cried hotly.
He stiffened. “It is not difficult to perceive my cousin’s influence at work!” he said. “Before her arrival in London, you would not have spoken so to me! My regard for Eugenia — ”
“If you loved, Charles, you would not talk of your regard for Eugenia!”
It was at this inappropriate moment that Dassett ushered Miss Wraxton into the room. Cecilia whisked her brother’s handkerchief out of sight, a tide of crimson flooding her cheeks; Mr. Rivenhall turned away from the window, and said with a palpable effort, “Eugenia! We did not expect this pleasure! How do you do?”