She sighed. “Not if Sir Vincent Talgarth was there also, which is what I fear. I never saw her so animated!”
“Disappointing! She won my heart originally by falling asleep under my eyes!”
She laughed, and said no more, a slight abstraction possessing her until she was set down in Berkeley Square and found Mr. Rivenhall awaiting her return in considerable ill humor. This instantly revived her, and she had no hesitation in informing him, upon demand, where she had been.
“You did not go alone!”
“By no means. Charlbury drove me there.”
“I see! First you must set the town talking with Talgarth, and now with Charlbury! Famous!”
“I do not perfectly understand you,” said Sophy, as one innocently seeking enlightenment. “I thought your objection to Sir Vincent was that he has the name for being a great rake. Surely you do not suspect Charlbury of this! Why, you were even desirous at one time of wedding your sister to him!”
“I am even more desirous that my cousin should not earn for herself the reputation of being fast!”
“Why?” asked Sophy, looking him in the eye. He made her no answer, and, after a moment, she said, “What right have you, Charles, to take exception to what I may choose to do?”
“If your own good taste — ”