“Then you’re not actually married or betrothed or anything of the sort?” he inquired with lively hopefulness.
“Oh, but I am engaged,” she answered, reverting to her original fiction. “My fiancé is on duty and can’t get away. As soon as he comes over we’re to be married. Now, please, do you think it’s very awful? You’ve been so good, I should hate to have you despise me.”
“Oh, I’m no sort of a despiser,” he assured her. “And if I felt like doing a bit of despising, I’d go out in the woods and despise a toad. Certainly I shouldn’t try my hand on anything as plucky and resourceful as you.”
“Resourcefulness is good as far as it goes,” said she. “But could I carry the thing through if my friends come back here and I have to present you?”
“I shouldn’t concern myself about that,” he comforted her. “Surely they won’t come.”
“Why not?”
“Bridal touring couples don’t commonly go about seeking other companionship, do they?” Darcy stared. “How do you know they are on their bridal trip? I never told you.”
“Surmised it from something my friend, Mr. Thomas Harmon told me.”
“Do you know Mr. Harmon?”
“Rah-ther! I’m on my way to his place.”