“What in the world is this new flummery? Do you forget that until a week ago you were Miss Rochdale of Feldenhall?”
“No, I do not forget it, but I think you must forget the circumstances of—of my father’s death!”
“I remember them perfectly, but what they have to do with you, I fear, will always remain a mystery to me.”
She was silenced, but after a moment managed to say, “I am persuaded your sisters would not say as much. Only think what a shock it would be to them to learn of such tidings as your betrothal to me!”
“If I know anything of my sister Georgy,” he responded, “she has already written to tell both Eliza and Gussie, and very likely Harry too, that Ned has fallen head over ears in love at last.”
She blushed rosily in the darkness. “Oh, no! do not say so! She cannot have thought such a thing!”
“Well, she said I was very sly, but that she would not tease me.”
“I must not listen to you!” Elinor said, much shaken. “Oh, it is the most ridiculous thing! You only met me a week ago, and then you constrained me to marry your horrid cousin!”
“It is a fortunate thing that I did not know you better, for if I had I should certainly never have done so.”
She uttered a laugh that broke in the middle. “Odious, odious man!”