Archie had turned to Bella.
‘Surprises will never cease. My dear Miss Wynter, I am more delighted to see you than I can express. Words are powerless in a case like this.—Golightly, let me make you a happy man for ever by introducing you to Miss Bella Wynter—one of the most charming and at the same time most dangerous belles of the season.—Miss Wynter, do, for mercy’s sake, take this unsophisticated youth under your wing, and try to coax him out of his shell.’
‘Isn’t that rather a mixed-up metaphor, Mr Ridsdale?’
‘’Twill serve, as Mercutio says. You know my meaning.’
‘Mr—a—Mr Golightly,’ said her ladyship.
Richard turned, and the dowager motioned him with her fan to take a seat beside her on the ottoman.
‘O Archie!’ said Bella in a whisper, ‘what a dreadful scrape you have got poor Dick into by bringing him in here!’
‘Don’t you believe it,’ responded Mr Ridsdale with a grin. ‘For pure impudence, I don’t know any young man of his years who’s a match for Dicky Dulcimer. And as for throwing dust in Lady Renshaw’s eyes, the scoundrel will revel in it—absolutely revel in it.’
‘Poor, dear aunty, if she only knew!’ said Bella with a touch of compunction, which, however, by no means tended to dim the sparkle in her eyes.
‘And how was the dear bishop, Mr Golightly, when you last heard from him?’ inquired her ladyship in her blandest tones.