“I declare you are as bad as Lady Sheringham!” Hero cried. “She actually came to call on me, only to tell me that if I were not such a wretched wife I should put an end to such pranks!”
“Hero, what happened?” asked Miss Milborne, a crease beginning to appear between her brows. “I collect that George’s injury was not sustained in a duel?”
“A duel? Good heavens, no!” cried Hero, laughing. “It was the most absurd start! Merely, George challenged Sherry to drive his curricle through a narrow gate, and back himself to beat him — which, indeed, he did, though he only contrived to scrape through seven times to Sherry’s five!”
A tide of colour rose to the very roots of Miss Milborne’s admirably cut and dressed copper locks. She said in a strictly controlled voice: “I had heard nothing of this. How — how absurd! Really, it is beyond everything! I do not wonder at Lady Sheringham’s displeasure.” She encountered a sparkling look from her hostess, and gave a little laugh. “Oh! do not eat me, my dear! I am sure it is no concern of mine. Shall you be at Almack’s tomorrow evening?”
Since Sherry, when tentatively approached on this subject, had said (with a groan) that he was willing to do his duty, Hero was able to say that she would certainly be there; and the remainder of the morning visit passed in the discussion of the ladies’ respective toilettes.
Unfortunately, it transpired, when Hero burst upon her husband on the following evening in all the glory of a new dress of Italian crape, lavishly trimmed with lace and floss-silk, that he had forgotten all about the engagement, and had made an assignation with a party of his intimates at Cribb’s Parlour. He looked extremely discontented, not to say sulky, supposed she would expect him to send a message round to Gil’s lodging, and wondered what she could possibly find to amuse her at Almack’s.
“Should you prefer not to go, Sherry?” Hero asked, trying very hard not to let a wistful note creep into her voice.
“Oh! I suppose you have set your heart on it, and there is nothing for it!” he responded. “Only I shall be obliged to change my clothes, and I must say I think it is a great bore. However, it don’t signify.”
She could not agree to this. It would be a shocking thing if he had to forgo his pleasure on her account, and the knowledge that he had done so would most effectively destroy her own pleasure. She instantly said: “But I do not at all care to go, Sherry. Indeed, I have the headache a little, and if you are engaged with your friends I should be quite glad to stay at home!”
His face cleared at once. “Should you indeed?” he asked eagerly. “You know, I am prepared to take you if you really wish to go, only I dare say you would find it pretty flat.”