He was the first of the culprits to make his appearance. The dowager attacked him of course. What did he mean by keeping dinner waiting?
Val replied that he was late in coming home; he had been out. As to keeping dinner waiting, it seemed that Lord Hartledon was doing that: he didn't suppose they'd have waited for him.
He spoke tartly, as if not on good terms with himself or the world. Anne Ashton, near to whom he had drawn, looked up at him with a charming smile.
"Things may brighten, Percival," she softly breathed.
"It's to be hoped they will," gloomily returned Val. "They look dark enough just now."
"What have you done to your face?" she whispered.
"To my face? Nothing that I know of."
"The forehead is red, as if it had been bruised, or slightly grazed."
Val put his hand up to his forehead. "I did feel something when I washed just now," he remarked slowly, as though doubting whether anything was wrong or not. "It must have been done—when I—struck against that tree," he added, apparently taxing his recollection.
"How was that?"