“Very certainly. But from me she has stolen no Bas.”
Lady Fanny laughed sadly.
“How well you know me! You play me like a puppet. Yes—because she has robbed me, I’m to act the noble part, am I?”
“She did it not willingly.”
“True. Well—you pull the string that makes me dance. You mean—why should I revenge on the girl what she could not help? You ask something of a man’s greatness of soul from me when I would hug my own little petticoated rancours. But I’ll respond. Yes, I’ll help you to make her the fashion and know herself not despised.”
“She cares not for the fashion. She cares for the friendship of women she can honour.”
“And she would honour me?”
“She does.”
“O Kitty, you wheedler! You roll the bolus in honey. But I’ll swallow it from your hand and Bolton’s. As I said t’other night when I little suspected what ’twould cost me—I’ll follow where you lead. You may use me as you will with Bolton. After all—the Queen receives Mrs. Oldfield on the sly.”
“My Lady Fanny is more than the loose-tongued Queen and she will receive Mrs. Fenton openly,” says the Duchess gravely.