“Thank you!” interjected his lordship.
“ — and you,” continued Sophy serenely, “so that my uncle may be silenced at last. You know, for I told you so, that I persuaded him to announce to poor Cecy his unalterable decision that she was to wed you! If I know Cecy, the shock will bring her posthaste to Ashtead, to rescue the pair of us. If, my dear Charlbury, you cannot help yourself in that eventuality, I wash my hands of you!”
“I can find it in me to wish you had done so long since!” was his ungrateful response. “Outrageous, Sophy, outrageous! And what if neither she nor the Marquesa comes to Lacy Manor? Let me tell you that nothing will serve to induce me to compromise you!”
“No, indeed! I should dislike it excessively! If that happened, I fear you will be obliged to spend the night at Leatherhead. It is not very far from Lacy Manor, and I believe you may be tolerably comfortable at the Swan. Or you might hire a chaise to carry you back to London. But Sancia at least will not fail.”
“Have you told Cecilia that you have kidnapped me?” he demanded. She nodded, and he exclaimed, “I could murder you! What a trick to play! And what a figure I must cut!”
“She won’t think of that. Do you recall that I told you only the other day that she must be made to pity you instead of Augustus? Besides that, I am persuaded she will suffer perfect torments of jealousy! Only fancy! I was quite at a stand until I remembered what I had once heard pronounced by a most distinguished soldier! ‘Surprise is the essence of attack!’ The most fortunate circumstance!”
“Was it not?” he said sarcastically. “I have a very good mind to get down at the next pike!”
“You will ruin all if you do.”
“It is abominable, Sophy!”
“Yes, if the motive were not pure!”