“Say, more truly, that I forced her confidence.”
Robin’s dazzling smile came. “I have to offer you my apologies, sir. I under-rated your intelligence. What now?”
Sir Anthony replied placidly: “I’ve a very lively desire to marry your sister, Master Robin.”
“You cannot suppose me astonished to hear that,” said Robin. But he felt some astonishment nevertheless. “Do you come to ask my consent?”
“It was not exactly my object,” Sir Anthony said. “I take it I had best apply to my Lord Barham for that.”
Egad, Prue was in the right of it all along when she said there was little escaped those sleepy eyes. It would not do to appear confounded. “When you are better acquainted with the family, sir, you will realise your error.”
“My dear boy,” said Sir Anthony lazily, “from the little I have seen of your remarkable parent I should imagine he pulls all the strings to set you both dancing.”
Robin laughed. “There’s some truth in that, sir. But if you don’t want my consent, what do you want of me?”
“You’ve not had speech with your sister?”
“Devil a word.”