“Scarcely a cordial invitation,” said Lady Georgina, biting her lips and smiling; “all the same I shall accept it. If you will excuse me, I’ll just go and speak to my groom; he can take Dandy round to the stables. I need not send for a dinner dress, need I?”
“Oh, no; stay as you are,” said Nance. She felt slightly stunned, but Lady Georgina’s presence forced her to rouse herself.
They went into the grounds. The day was sunshiny, and the first signs of spring began to be apparent in some delicate buds of green which were coming out on the ribes and other of the hardiest shrubs. As they walked side by side, Lady Georgina kept up a flow of small talk. She was a woman of considerable character, although at first sight she appeared to be nothing but froth and frivolity. She had a kindly and sterling heart. She knew more about Rowton than he had any idea of, and she pitied Nance from the bottom of her heart.
“How pretty she is!” she said to herself. “Anyone can see that she is madly in love with that handsome lion. Poor child, what will her future be? If my suspicions are correct, what chance has she of lasting happiness? Well, I like her husband, whatever his failings, and I am going to like her.”
Accordingly Lady Georgina put out her really great powers, and before long Nance had submitted to her charm. They walked about for over an hour and then came in to tea. Afterwards Nance took her guest up to her bedroom.
Hester entered to attend to the ladies. When she had withdrawn Lady Georgina spoke about her to Nance.
“I know that girl,” she said; “her name is Hester Winsome. She used to be one of my favourite pupils in the village school. She went off to London when she was fifteen. I have heard things of her since, which were not absolutely in her favour. Why have you engaged her as your maid?”
“I do not know anything about it,” said Nance. “Mrs. Ferguson brought her to me on the night of my arrival. She told me she was a girl from the village who had been thoroughly trained in London.”