“Her Grace doesn’t expect me, for I declined.”
“You declined!” cried his fair companion. “Why?”
“Wrey declined. He has recently had orders from me to decline all such invitations. Dances only bore me. I’m too much occupied with official business.”
“Official business! Bosh! Leave it alone for a time and enjoy yourself. You are really becoming quite the old crony.”
“Better that than—well, than to be one of the set who were down at Fernhurst Abbey.”
She glanced at him swiftly, with a curious, half-apprehensive look.
“At Fernhurst? What do you mean?”
“I mean, Claudia, that there were certain incidents at Fernhurst which do not reflect much credit upon either the man or the woman.”
“And I am the woman, of course?”
He nodded.