“Why, Cyril!” cried Lady Caerleon, catching sight of him first. “Is the—is Ernestine here?”
“No, I have run over alone. Usk’s out, I hope? I wanted to catch you two together. Bill flourishing, Caerleon? The session onward plods its weary way, I suppose? How does Usk work?”
“Splendidly. When we have him in the Commons, we shall begin to move at last, I feel certain.”
“Good. No chance that the Southumberland seat will fall vacant just yet, is there, though? Morrell will hang on until death or a general election unseats him, and there’s no present likelihood of either, I believe?”
“Not that I know of.”
“That’s all right, then. I want Usk.”
Lady Caerleon turned pale. “Oh, Cyril, has Félicia repented?”
“Never further from it. She is making splendid progress towards her heart’s desire. But your maternal instinct was not at fault, Nadia. It is on behalf of a prospective daughter-in-law that I am come to you.”
“But Usk has never said anything——”
“About her? I think he has. Has he never mentioned the Princess Helene of Schwarzwald-Molzau?”