"Oh, I see him now!" she said, after a minute. "He is with that lady in ruby silk. Aunt West, who is she?"
"The Earl of Eastwood's daughter, Lady Adela. She is a great beauty and a very grand lady."
"She is very handsome, certainly," Leonora said. Her gaze lingered on the dark, brilliant face behind the flowers. The dark eyes and red lips made a pretty picture. She wondered if Captain Lancaster thought so.
"Yes, she is very handsome, and she will be the next mistress of Lancaster Park," Mrs. West said.
"She is engaged to Captain—to Lord Lancaster, then?" said Leonora. She looked at the earl's daughter with a new interest.
"No, but every one knows what is in Lady Lancaster's mind," said Mrs. West, significantly.
"It is dreadfully close here in this closet. One can scarcely breathe," said Leonora. "Oh! Lady Lancaster, you said. What has she to do with Lord Lancaster and the earl's daughter? It seems to me she is a very meddlesome old lady."
"She wants her nephew to marry Lady Adela. Every one knows it. She invited her here just to throw them together and make the match."
"But perhaps he will not marry her just to please his aunt!" spiritedly.
"He will be apt to do just what my lady tells him," said Mrs. West. "If he does not, she will leave her money away from him. He can not afford that."