“Yes, indeed I do know, but—”
“Every observance was shown me! The most distinguishing notice! And such kind attentions! And I in so much agitation that every faculty was in danger of becoming suspended! I am sure he must think me the most antiquated fidget, for what must I do but forget my netting box! I am quite ashamed to think that I should have exclaimed that I believed I had not brought it, for his lordship without the least show of being vexed instantly ordered the postilions to turn back! And a glass of ratafia and a macaroon on the road, though I assured him I was not accustomed to take anything in the middle of the day!”
“I will allow him to be thoughtful in such matters as that, but—”
“And such a well-informed mind, my love! I did not look for him to put himself to the trouble of tailing to me, I’m sure, but he was all that was most amiable! You may judge of my relief to know that you were in the care of one whom I could so truly respect!”
“Becky, let me make it plain to you that I am not in Carlyon’s care! How I came to let myself be thrust into this imbroglio I cannot imagine! And now to hear you, whom I have all my life believed to be a model of propriety, talking as though a piece of good fortune had come to me, puts me out of all patience! For it is quite shocking, Becky!”
“Indeed, my love, I do partake of your sentiments, but depend upon it you did right to trust his lordship to be the best judge of your actions.”
“Did right to let myself be married and widowed within a couple of hours? How can you say so?”
“To be sure, when you speak of it in such terms as that it does sound a trifle unusual,” Miss Beccles admitted. “But I have never been able to support the thought of your being condemned to the life I have been obliged to lead. And you know, my dear Elinor—if I may still call you so, though I know I should not—from all his lordship was condescending enough to tell me it does seem as though it is a merciful dispensation of Providence that the young man is dead. Not that one would wish to say anything unkind, but I cannot think that he was quite the thing, and I dare say must have made you a sad husband. How often has one been forced to observe that the most tragic events are for the best!”
It was plainly useless to expect the little governess to enter into her feelings on the matter so Elinor left her to her unpacking and went downstairs to discover what Carlyon meant to do next. She found that he had put on his coat again and was upon the point of departure. As she descended the stairs he looked up and said, “The door is now fast, ma’am, and I do not anticipate that you need feel any further alarm. Remember, I beg, that all is as yet no more than conjecture! We should be ill advised to refine too much upon what has happened until we are given more positive proof that our suspicions are well grounded. I shall be visiting you in the morning with my cousin’s lawyer. Meanwhile, I have procured a wedding ring for you, which I trust may fit your finger more nearly than that signet of mine.”
He held it out to her so that she was obliged to take it and to give him back his own. He seemed to have judged the size of her finger with tolerable accuracy. She slipped the ring on but demanded, ‘“My lord, how long do you mean to keep me in this house?”