“I cry your pardon,” he declared. “I would not intrude on your quiet, but I read and walked unconscious that there was company among the yews.”
Brilliana answered him with the dignity of a gracious and benevolent queen.
“Do not withdraw, sir; you have the liberty of Loyalty House, and I would not have you avoid any part of its gardens.”
Evander bowed. Sir Blaise broke into a horse-laugh which grated more on Brilliana’s ears than on Evander’s. Brilliana was at heart rather angry that for once Puritan should show better than Cavalier.
“You are a vastly happy jack to be used so gently,” he bellowed. “Some would have stuck such a hostage in a garret and done well enough.”
Evander still kept his eyes fixed on the lady of the house and seemed to have no ears for the jeering Cavalier. With a lift of the hand that indicated and saluted the prospect, he said, smoothly, “You have a very gracious garden, lady.”
Mirth shone discreetly in Brilliana’s eyes as she gave the Puritan a bow for his praise. The Cavalier, a viola da gamba of anger, pegged his string of bluster tighter.
“Did not the fellow hear me?” he cried, and this time his noise won him a moment of attention. Evander gave him a glance, and then, returning to Brilliana, said, with a manner of amused contempt, “You have a very ungracious gardener.”
Sir Blaise’s pink face purpled; Sir Blaise’s hand swung to the hilt of his sword. Evander seemed to have forgotten his existence and to await quietly any further favor of speech from Brilliana. My Lady Mischief, much diverted, judged it time to intervene.