“Yes, he followed Gervase to Eton.”
“Well, don’t tell me his will wasn’t thwarted there!” said Ulverston. “Doing it too brown, dear fellow! I was at Eton m’self!”
“You were perhaps not so much indulged at home. With Martin, the influence of school counted for nothing once he was back at Stanyon.”
They were interrupted by the Earl, who, coming up behind them, said lightly: “What treason are you hatching, the pair of you? I don’t think Cloud’s legs will be marked.”
“Gervase, are you concealing something from us?” asked Theo bluntly.
“Oh, so Lucy has been telling you that I have never been known to let my rein go, has he? I thank you for the compliment, Lucy, but it is undeserved. Now I think I should do well to slip into the house unobserved, for if Martin were to catch a glimpse of my cravat in its present lamentable condition he would cease to think me a dandy, and that would be a sad disappointment to both of us.”
“Martin ain’t in the house,” said the Viscount. “He went out with his gun, my man tells me.”
“Ah, did he? He is the most indefatigable sportsman! I have not yet seen him riding to hounds — neck-or-nothing, I feel tolerably certain! — but he is an excellent shot. Lucy, I never thanked you for coming so heroically to my rescue! My dear fellow, I could not be more grateful if I had needed you!”
“Bamming, Ger, bamming! I know this humour, and shan’t be taken-in!”
The Earl laughed, kissed the tips of his fingers to him, and vanished into the Castle.