“Seventeen,” supplied Jerry.
“And this is the most amusing, interesting, and exciting thing I have heard in all my life. It might be difficult ordinarily for me to forgive the wink, but your explanation lifts it out of the realm of social impropriety into the sphere of generous benevolence. And if, after Colonel Gillingwater has gone to his reward, you should marry my brother, I shall do all in my power to make your life in our family happy in every way.”
“Your brother does not seem particularly proud of his family connection,” said Jerry. “He spoke of you in the most beautiful way, but he seems distressed by the actions of some of the others.”
Mrs. Atchison sighed.
“Tommy is right about us. We are a sad lot.”
“But he is very hard on the duke. Since I came to Ardsley his Grace has treated me with the greatest courtesy, and he has spoken to me in the most complimentary terms. He is beyond question a man of kind heart, for he has promised me his mother’s pearl necklace, which had been in her family for four hundred years.”
“I should not hesitate to take the necklace, Jerry, if he really produces it, for my sister, his wife, has never had the slightest glimpse of it, and it is, I believe, in the hands of certain English trustees for the benefit of the duke’s creditors. I dislike to spoil one of his Grace’s pretty illusions, but unless Mr. Billings softens his heart a great deal toward the duke I fear that you will not get the pearls this summer.”
“I must tell you as my chaperon, Mrs. Atchison, that the duke has already offered to elope with me. He told me last night, as we were having our coffee on the terrace, that he would gladly give up his wife, meaning, I suppose, your sister, and the Ardmore millions for me; but while I think him fascinating, I want you to feel quite safe, for I promise you I shall elope with no one while I am your guest.”
Mrs. Atchison’s face had grown a little white, and she compressed her lips in lines that were the least bit grim.
“The scoundrel!” she exclaimed half under her breath. “To think that he would insult a child like you! He is hanging about us here in the hope of getting more money, while my poor sister, his wife, is in an English sanatorium half crazed by his brutality. If Tommy knew this he would undoubtedly kill him!”