“I fear I cannot answer you until I learn more precisely how matters stand.”
“I dare say you would not be in the least moved if you came tomorrow and found us all lying dead in our beds!” she said bitterly.
“On the contrary, I should be a good deal surprised.”
She could not help laughing. “Odious creature! Very well, I see you have a heart of stone and I waste my time in useless entreaties! What would you have me do, sir?”
“My advice to you, you found so unpalatable that I hesitate to repeat it, Mrs. Cheviot.”
“Oh, yes! you would have me decked out in black crape! I am not such a hypocrite!”
“I do not know what will be proper for you to wear, but I must point out to you that it is in the highest degree likely that my cousin’s uncle, Lord Bedlington, will come into Sussex to attend the funeral, if not the inquest, and he will certainly wait on you. Your wearing colors will occasion some remark.”
“You have a reasonable answer for everything, my lord. It is what one particularly dislikes in you! Pray, what am I to say to Lord Bedlington?”
“I will engage to say all that is needful. It will be best for him to suppose that you had been for long betrothed to my cousin. As for last night’s affair, Nicky assures me that he allowed Greenlaw to suppose that he had been shot by a common housebreaker. I have already desired the Barrows to tell the same tale. Our care must now be not to do or say anything that could betray our suspicions.”
“Very true! How shocking if we should frighten any spies away!”