“Now you come to mention it, Sherry, dear boy, I saw her too,” said Ferdy. “Didn’t care to draw your attention to it.”
They had by this time traversed the Circus and were halfway down Brock Street. “So that was why — !” Sherry muttered. “It is George I have to thank for — ! By God, let me but get my hands on George!”
Ferdy, perceiving that it could only be a matter of minutes before a most unwelcome question would be hurled at him, said in a desperate attempt to avert suspicion: “No wish to pry into your affairs, Sherry! Take it you wasn’t expecting to see Lady Sherry? Very extraordinary business!”
Fortunately for him, the Viscount’s mind was so taken up with the thought of George’s duplicity that he paid no heed to this. The curricle swept into the Royal Crescent and drew up outside one of the houses, behind the chaises, which were being unloaded by a bevy of hirelings. Jason jumped down and went to the horses’ heads. As his master descended into the road, he said in a stupefied tone: “So help me bob, guv’nor! That were the Missus!”
“Jason, hold your tongue!” the Viscount said angrily.
“Chaffer and daylights close as a oyster, me lord!” promptly replied the Tiger, his sharp countenance alive with curiosity.
The Viscount strode into the house, leaving his cousin to follow at his leisure. The entrance hall was a litter of trunks and bandboxes; his lordship picked his way none too carefully through them and ran up the stairs to the parlour on the first floor. Here he found Miss Milborne directing a couple of abigails where to take various packages that strewed the room. She smiled at Sherry, and said: “Your Mama has the headache, and has gone to lie down on her bed before it is time to dress for dinner. I am sorry we are still in such a pickle, but I will have all in order — Why, what is the matter, Sherry?”
The Viscount waited until the two abigails had loaded themselves with impedimenta, and then firmly shut them out of the room. With his hand still on the doorknob, he said grimly: “Do you know whom I saw in Bennet Street?” She looked a startled inquiry.
“George!” said the Viscount, flinging the name at her.
“Oh!” she exclaimed, blushing a little. “Oh, indeed!”