fashion.”
“Good notion—if the thing comes off right,” agreed Freddy. “Trouble is, can’t be sure it will!”
His cousin laughed. “I’ll take my chance of that!”
Freddy was well aware of Mr. Westruther’s many conquests. While he was far from understanding why nine females out of ten were so foolish as to fall in love with one who, if not a downright rake, was certainly the most accomplished flirt in town, this was not a question which had previously exercised his mind. Tonight, for the first time, he was nettled by Jack’s assurance; and instead of thinking that it was rather cork-brained of Kitty to hoax Jack, along with all the rest, he suddenly realized that had he been free to tell the truth he would not have done it. Time Jack had a set-down! A certain suspicion beginning to take shape in his mind, he said: “Wish you good fortune! Glad I met you tonight: wanted to tell you! Devilish grateful to you, coz! Never thought there was any chance for me in that quarter: shouldn’t have gone to Arnside if you hadn’t given me a nudge!”
If he had hoped to have confounded his cousin, he was disappointed. There was certainly an arrested look in Mr. Westruther’s face, but he only cocked an eyebrow, and said: “Can it be that I am to wish you happy?”
“That’s it,” replied Freddy. “Mind, we ain’t puffing it off yet, because the old gentleman don’t like it above half, but it’s known in the family.”
He had the satisfaction of seeing Mr. Westruther’s brows snap together, and the laugh quite fade from his eyes; but it was only for a second. The frown vanished as swiftly as it had appeared; Mr. Westruther grinned at him, and said: “No, Freddy, no! Doing it too brown!”
“Ain’t doing it brown at all,” said Freddy stolidly. “Dolph, Hugh, and I all offered for Kit. Accepted me. Well, I knew she would!”
“What?”
“Dash it, Jack!” said Freddy, stung. “Any girl would rather marry me than Dolph or Hugh! No use saying Dolph’s an Earl: he’s run off his legs, besides being dicked in the nob! And as for Hugh—lord!”
“Just so,” concurred his cousin. “But, Freddy—but—! I still say that you are doing it too brown! I will allow that Kitty might prefer you to Dolph or Hugh, but I’m not such a green ’un that I will swallow this hum that you— you, sweet coz!—offered your hand and heart to Kitty Charing! It conjures up an enchanting picture, but no, Freddy, no!”
Freddy toyed with the idea of presenting Mr. Westruther with another picture, that of a long-standing but secret attachment, sketched by Miss Charing’s reckless hand. Something told him that it would not be accepted; and he said instead: “Thought you’d be surprised. Fact is, been thinking for some time I ought to be married. Eldest son, you know: duty!”
“And your father so stricken in years besides!” said Mr. Westruther helpfully.
“No,” said Freddy. “He ain’t stricken in years, but they’ve got measles in the house. No saying what might happen.”
This flight into the realms of fancy was too much for Mr. Westruther. “Enough!” he said. “This bubble was pricked before it was fully blown, coz. I hope you mean to regale me with the true story of what happened at Arnside. Did Dolph and Hugh indeed offer for Kitty?”
“Yes, they did, but anyone could have told ’em it wouldn’t fadge. Couldn’t expect Kit to like being asked only for Uncle Matthew’s fortune. Knew I didn’t want his blunt. Knew I was dashed fond of her, too. So I popped the question, and there we were. Got a notion we shall suit very well.”
There was now a slight crease between Mr. Westruther’s brows, but he said, still in an amused tone: “Do forgive me!—But how came you, in these circumstances, to tear yourself away from your—er—betrothed so soon? And you always polite to a point!”
“Didn’t tear myself away from her,” replied Freddy. “Brought her up to town with me. Wanted to present her to m’mother and father. She’s in Mount Street.”
He watched his cousin to see how this piece of corroborative information was being received, and was a little puzzled. There was a gleam in Jack’s eyes, and the hint of a smile playing about the corners of his mouth. “I see,” he said. He patted Freddy on the shoulder. “I felicitate you, coz: I am quite sure you will suit admirably! Of course I shall call in Mount Street to pay my respects to the future Mrs. Standen, but in the meantime do, pray, assure her of my best wishes for her happiness!”
“Much obliged. Very likely she’ll visit Meg, though.”
“Then I shall call in Berkeley Square. What a charming surprise for Meg! Here she comes!” He paused, watching Lady Buckhaven, who had been taking part in the country-dance which had just ended, trip across the floor towards them. “Dearest cousin, here is Freddy with such delightful news for you! I shall leave him to tell it to you, but I give you warning that when they strike up for the waltz you are mine, and I will by no means submit to being supplanted by him!”
Lady Buckhaven, a very pretty blonde, with her mama’s large, rather full eyes, and a great deal of vivacity, cried out at this. “How can you, Jack? As though I would do anything so rustic as to stand up with my own brother! Freddy, where have you been this age? What have you to tell me?”
His eyes were on his cousin’s retreating form; instead of answering, he said, in a disapproving tone: “What’s he mean by calling you his dearest cousin?”
“Why, that I am, to be sure!” she retorted, laughing.
“Well, it ain’t much to boast of,” said Freddy, having passed his family under rapid mental review. “All the same, shouldn’t encourage him!”
“Don’t be so gothic, Freddy! He is the most enchanting flirt, and only think how ravishing it is to set odious creatures like Charlotte Kilvington there gnawing their nails with jealousy! I declare you are as stupid as Lady Buckhaven! Oh, Freddy, the most shocking thing! That antiquated old fidget insists that I cannot remain in London while Buckhaven is away!”
“Yes, I know. Thought of something, too. That’s why I came tonight.”
“Freddy, you have not? Oh, tell me this instant!” she cried, clasping ecstatic hands.
“Yes, but don’t kick up such a dust!” said her censorious brother. “You’ll have everyone gaping at us. Come and sit down! And, mind, now, Meg! you needn’t set up a screech just because I’ve got something to say that’ll surprise you!”
Thus admonished, Lady Buckhaven meekly accompanied him to two vacant chairs, placed between a pair of palms against the wall. Their progress was somewhat impeded by the determination of various acquaintances to greet them, but they arrived at their goal at last, and Lady Buckhaven said, disposing the diaphanous folds of her blue gauze overdress becomingly: “I can’t conceive why you should be so mysterious! If it is all a take-in, I will never forgive you! Oh, Freddy, I must tell you the latest crim. con. story! You will be in whoops! Only fancy!—it is all over town that Lady Louisa Aldstone and young Garsdale—”
“Lord, I knew that before I went to Melton!” interrupted Freddy scornfully. “And you needn’t tell me Johnny Eppleby fathered the last Thresham brat, because I know that too!”
“No!” exclaimed his sister.
Perceiving that he had over-estimated her new-found knowledge of the world, Freddy said hastily: “All a hum, I daresay! I wish you will stop chattering, and pay attention!”
She turned her blue orbs upon him expectantly, and, with all the air of one wearied with repeating an incredible tale, he disclosed his engagement to her. She was quite as astonished as Lady Legerwood had been, and much more exclamatory; but no sooner had he propounded to her his scheme for her own salvation and Kitty’s entertainment, than she forgot every other consideration in wholehearted approval of a plan which bade fair to afford her with a reasonable excuse for eschewing the rural amenities of Gloucestershire. She retained the haziest memory of Miss Charing, having only once visited Arnside, and that some years previously, but she was sure she would like her excessively; and the intelligence that she would be expected without loss of time to superintend the purchase of a wardrobe she greeted with rapture. “And I am to introduce her into society? Oh, you may depend upon me, my dear brother!”
“Well, I do,” acknowledged Freddy, “but I must say I don’t feel easy! Never knew anyone with such a shocking eye for colour as you, Meg! That underdress, or petticoat, or whatever you call it, that you have on! No, really, m’dear girl! It won’t do!”
“Freddy!” cried Lady Buckhaven, stunned. “How can you say such a thing? This particular shade of pink is all the crack!”
“Not with this blue stuff it ain’t,” said Freddy positively.
