“Lord, I’d forgotten that! I wouldn’t above half mind managing the place myself, if it were mine!”
Theo looked amused. “If it were not for one circumstance, I should suggest that you accompany me there,” he said. “As it is, if you go, you go alone! I shall not readily forget your last encounter with its present occupant.”
“Is it possible that Martin does not care for Aunt Dorothea?” asked the Earl, moving one of his knights to protect a threatened pawn.
Martin grinned, but it was Theo who answered: “It is a case of mutual dislike. It has been my unhappy fate to act as mediator in several skirmishes, and it is my firm resolve not to be present at their Waterloo!”
“I’ll tell you what, St. Erth!” said Martin. “You should go to Studham with Theo!”
“I can perceive not the smallest reason why I should do anything of the sort.”
“To pay your respects to my aunt, of course! If you will invite her to live here, dash it, I will go and live at Studham!”
“Thank you, Martin, I prefer your company to Aunt Dorothea’s.”
“Why, how is this? I had thought you liked her! You threatened to bring her here, didn’t you?”
“There was really no danger of my doing so, however.”