Lord Elton flushed an apoplectic red, and swallowed a gulp of champagne hastily.
“Yes-er-yes. I—er had the place for some time,—rather a bore to keep up,—wants quite an army of servants.”
“Just so;”
I replied with a nod of appreciative comprehension—“I presume it will require a considerable domestic retinue. I have arranged to purchase it.”
Lady Sibyl’s frigid composure was at last disturbed—she looked strangely agitated,—and the Earl stared till his eyes seemed likely to fall out of his head.
“You? You are going to buy Willowsmere?” he ejaculated.
“Yes. I have wired to my lawyers to settle the matter as quickly as possible”—and I glanced at Lucio whose steel-bright eyes were fixed on the Earl with curious intentness,—“I like Warwickshire,—and as I shall entertain a great deal I think the place will suit me perfectly.”
There was a moment’s silence. Miss Charlotte Fitzroy sighed deeply, and the lace bow on her severely parted hair trembled visibly. Diana Chesney looked up with inquisitive eyes and a little wondering smile.
“Sibyl was born at Willowsmere,”—said the Earl presently in rather a husky voice.
“A new charm is added to its possession by that knowledge,”—I said gently, bowing to Lady Sibyl as I spoke—“Have you many recollections of the place?”