“George!” said Miss Milborne again, rather pale, but meeting his gaze squarely. “If you call him out, I will not marry you!”
“Isabella!” uttered his lordship, trembling. “Do you mean — can you mean — ?”
Mr Ringwood let him go, but not before he had thoughtfully removed the gloves from his suddenly slackened grasp.
“Oh, George, for heaven’s sake, take me home!” begged Miss Milborne, her admirably modulated voice breaking. “I’m so tired, and hungry, and I never cared a rap for that odious man, no, nor for Severn either, or Sherry, or anyone save yourself, and I’m sure I don’t know why I care for you, for you are just as odious as any of them, only I do, and I will marry you tomorrow, if you like!”
“If I like!” said his lordship thickly, and enveloped her in a crushing embrace.
Mr Ringwood, observing his attention to be distracted from Sir Montagu, touched that pallid gentleman on the shoulder, and nodded significantly towards the door. Ferdy, ever helpful, picked up his hat and greatcoat, and silently handed them to him. Sir Montagu clutched them thankfully, and made good his escape.
“And the best of it is,” remarked Sherry, closing the door, and setting his shoulders to it, “he won’t dare show his face in town for months, in case he should run into George, and George’s feelings should get the better of him.”
“Have you let that fellow go?” George demanded, turning his head.
“Yes, but really it is much better that he should go,” said Hero soothingly. “For if you were to shoot him, you would have to leave the country, and then you could not marry Isabella. And he will not dare say a word about what happened tonight, because of what we might say about his wounding poor Mr Tarleton. And besides that, if he spread a horrid scandal, I dare say Sherry would not mind my telling people about his baby, for he has one, you know, and he would not give its mother a penny to provide for it, and it is Sherry who has to do so, which is a great deal too bad, for it is not Sherry’s baby! Indeed, I wish it was — at least, I mean I wish it was mine, because it is the dearest little thing!” A thought occurred to her; her eyes lit up; and she turned impulsively towards Sherry. “Oh, Sherry, do you think — ”
“Yes!” said his lordship hastily. “Yes, I do, Kitten, but not now, for the lord’s sake!”