“It appears to me to be raining, but I observe that you are not at all wet!” said Gervase sardonically.
“Of course I am not! I had my driving-coat on, and I left it, with my boots, downstairs! There is no need for you to blab to my mother that I was out tonight — though I daresay that is just what you mean to do!” He cast his brother a look of dislike, and said: “I suppose that curst door woke you! The wind blew it out of my hand.”
“Which door?”
“Oh, the one into the court, of course!” He jerked his head towards a door at the end of the gallery, which, as the Earl knew, led to a secondary flight of stairs. “I came in by that way: I often do!”
Gervase looked at him under slightly knit brows. “Very well, but what brought you to my room?”
“Well, I am bound to pass your room, if I come up by that stairway!”
“You are not bound to enter my room, however.”
“Enter your room! That’s a loud one! As though I should wish to!”
“Did you not, in fact, do so?”
“Of course I did not! Why should I? I wish you will be a little less busy, St. Erth! If I choose to go to Cheringham on affairs of my own — ”