She swallowed, and managed to speak with very fair composure. “I believe you must be safe at Evesleigh. It is on the road! That is where it happened before!”
“But this time only you and Chard know that I am out.”
She was silent for a moment. After staring unblinkingly at a clipped hedge, she brought her eyes back to his face, and said: “It is never of the least use to interfere! I daresay you know very well what you are about. I only wish you may not return to Stanyon in a high fever!”
He laughed, and raised her hand to his lips, and kissed it. “You are a woman in a million!” he told her caressingly, gave her hand a pat, and let it go.
He found his under-groom, a zealous youth rigorously schooled by his senior, polishing a saddle in the harness-room. When he was bidden put-to the grays he looked surprised but pleased, and made all haste to obey the order. A couple of stableboys ran to draw the Earl’s curricle out of the coach-house; and while this was being done the Earl strolled away to look at his brother’s new hunter. Since he had not been expected to enter the wing of the stables devoted to Martin’s horses, Mr. Leek had no time to remove himself from the building, but shrank back instead into an empty loose-box. His nephew, who had been leaning on a broom-handle, began briskly to sweep out one of the stalls.
“Don’t be bashful, Leek!” said the Earl. “You were just having a word with your nephew, were you not? Where is Mr. Martin’s young ’un, Hickling? I haven’t seen him yet: fig him out!”
“Yes, my lord!” muttered Hickling, laying aside the broom, and casting a fulminating look in the direction of his uncle.
This gentleman, emerging from the loose-box, achieved a genteel cough behind his hand, and said that he hoped there was no offence.
“None at all,” replied the Earl, watching Hickling lead out a rather rawboned youngster, and following him into the yard.
“Exercising them grays, me lord?” enquired Mr. Leek, with another cough.