Lady Adela was silent.
"A very suitable business. I'd intended it for a long time." Then, after a pause—
"You may tell Dorchester I will dress now."
Lady Adela, conscious, as she left the room, of the relief of her dismissal, joyfully yielded that relief as witness—
The Terror was still there, and she was glad.
II
Very different, however, at three in the afternoon. Now she sat in her high black chair waiting for Roddy Seddon. Very difficult now to imagine that early discourage of the morning. Magnificent now with her black dress and flashing eyes and white hair, waiting for Roddy Seddon.
This that she had long planned was at length to come to pass. Roddy Seddon was to be united to the Beaminster family, never again to be separated from it.
Of Rachel she thought not at all. She had never liked Rachel; indeed it was a more positive feeling than that. Alone of all the family was Rachel still in rebellion; even the Duke, although he was so often abroad or in the country (he hated London), was submissive enough when he was with them. But Rachel the old woman knew that she had not touched.