“Shatterbrained, that’s what you are, my dear girl!” he informed her, with some severity. “First it’s one thing, and then it’s another!
Told me you wanted to come to town to establish yourself, but all you do is to mix yourself up in affairs that don’t concern you. Shouldn’t wonder if you were to find yourself at a standstill.”
“But, Freddy, you would not have me refuse to help poor Dolph?”
“Well, I would,” he said. “Mind, it don’t matter to me if he chooses to marry that shocking fright, because he ain’t a Standen, for one thing; and for another he’s so badly touched in his upper works there’s no saying but what he might not do something a dashed sight worse than marry a tradesman’s daughter. Thing is, bound to be a rare kick-up if the thing comes off, and I’d as lief have nothing to do with it.” He met Miss Charing’s slightly reproachful eyes manfully, and added: “Tell you what, Kit! Got too kind a heart!”
A smile swept across her face. “Oh, Freddy, how absurd you are! When you have a much kinder one than I have!”
“No, really, Kit!” protested Freddy, revolted. “Haven’t got anything of the sort! Been on the town for years!”
“Yes, you have,” averred Kitty, lifting his hand to her cheek for a brief moment. “And when I consider how dreadfully I have imposed upon you—Oh, well! At least, I promise I won’t embroil you in this business! You won’t object to it if I help them? For it is the most shocking thing, Freddy!—I could not speak of it with Dolph standing by, but Lady Dolphinton holds him in subjection by threatening to have him shut up as a lunatic! And that he is not!”
“You don’t mean it?” exclaimed Freddy, much struck. “Of course he ain’t a lunatic! Got no brains, that’s all. Well, I ain’t got any either, but you wouldn’t say I was a lunatic, would you?”
“No, and you have got brains, Freddy!” said Kitty indignantly.
Mr. Standen, already shaken by having his hand rubbed worshipfully against a lady’s cheek, goggled at her. “You think I’ve got brains?” he said, awed. “Not confusing me with Charlie?”
“Charlie!” uttered Miss Charing contemptuously. ill daresay he has book-learning, but you have—you have address, Freddy!”
“Well, by Jove!” said Mr. Standen, dazzled by this new vision of himself.
Chapter XIV
Meanwhile, that noted Corinthian, Mr. Jack Westruther, was rapidly passing from a state of amused tolerance to one of slightly puzzled exasperation. That Kitty should cajole Mr. Standen into a counterfeit betrothal with the object of arousing jealousy in the breast of the man she really loved was something Mr. Westruther could understand, and even appreciate. That she should decline his invitations for no better alternative than a few hours spent in Dolphinton’s company was something he was very far from appreciating. She could not, he was persuaded, hope to awaken one spark of jealousy in him by such absurd tactics. He did not think so poorly of her as to suppose that she might seriously be encouraging his lordship’s advances, for he held Dolphinton in utter contempt; but a chance meeting with his cousin Biddenden, in Boodle’s Club, certainly sowed a seed of doubt in his mind.
“So Kitty Charing has a fancy to become a Countess!” said Biddenden, with a short laugh. “Well! I am not at all astonished! I’m sure I hope you are satisfied, Jack! A rare bungle you have made of it, you and Hugh between you!”
“Don’t you mean a Viscountess, George?” suggested Mr. Westruther amiably.
“No, I don’t. She’ll be Countess of Dolphinton before the year’s out, mark me! Much good may it do her!”
“Would you care to hazard a bet on the chance?”
“You’d lose!” said his lordship brutally. “You thought the girl was head over ears in love with you, didn’t you? Well, I thought it too, and nicely bubbled we have been! It’s my belief she’s a deep ‘un, and had her eye on Dolphinton from the outset.”
“I do hope, my dear George, that you mean to explain to me why, if this is so, she did not take him when she had the chance offered to her? I seem to be remarkably dull-witted today, for the reason is hid from me,” said Mr. Westruther, with unabated amiability.
“You’d know fast enough had you been at Arnside,” replied Biddenden. “The girl was in such a pet she was ready to throw a fortune to the wind, and took Freddy merely to spite the rest of us.”
“No: only to spite me!” said Mr. Westruther, laughing.
“Much you know! If Dolphinton had gone about the business like a man of sense, instead of as good as telling her he hoped she’d refuse his offer, she’d have accepted him! Good God, Jack, you never heard anything to equal it! The fellow’s as mad as Bedlam, and ought to be shut up!”
“Undoubtedly. May I know whence you culled this farradiddle? If you came to town only two days ago you have certainly been busy!”
“Oh, I had it from my Aunt Augusta!” Biddenden replied. “She is in high croak, I can tell you! And well she may be! When I think of Dolphinton’s inheriting Uncle Matthew’s fortune—Upon my soul, Jack, I had a great deal rather it was you!”
“Handsome of you!” Mr. Westruther, grinning at him.
“Ay, well, it won’t be you!” said Biddenden crossly. “You can lay your life to that! Kitty has shown her hand plainly enough. Either she meant to have Dolphinton all along, and took Freddy merely because she could scarcely accept such an offer as that idiot made her—with Hugh and me standing by, too!—or she fancied a Viscount to be as good as an Earl, until she came to town, and learned her mistake!”
“What a foolish fellow you are, George!” said Mr. Westruther gently. “Whatever else Kitty may have learnt in town, she has not learnt to think that beggarly Earldom superior to the title Freddy will inherit.”
“Very true! An Irish title, too! I would not give a groat for it myself. But an Earl is always an Earl, you know, and ten to one my aunt has stuffed the girl’s head full of nonsense about the great position she would occupy if she were to marry that dolt.” He pursed up his mouth, and sat twirling his quizzing-glass on the end of its riband. “I fancy Kitty is not the innocent we took her for,” he said, after a pause. “It occurs to me that she may very likely have come to the realization that marriage with Dolphinton would carry with it certain compensations. A complaisant husband, my dear jack, is not altogether to be despised!”
Mr. Westruther got up out of his chair. “No? But you are, George! Believe me, you are!”
Lord Biddenden flushed, and half started to his feet. Mr. Westruther, observing him with a good deal of mockery in his eyes, said: “I shouldn’t, George: really, I shouldn’t! Your credit would never survive a vulgar brawl in Boodle’s; and although I daresay you would like to plant me a facer you must know very well that it is quite beyond your power to do it.”
“Upon my word!” Biddenden said explosively. “You’re very squeamish all at once! A new come-out for you to be taking exception to a complaisant husband!”
“You mistake, George: no man sets a greater value on these gentry than I. My contempt is roused by the blubberheadedness that leads you into such gross error. Kitty had never such an idea in her mind. What a clodpole you are, dear coz! You have rusticated for too long—indeed, you have!”
He left Biddenden fuming and speechless; but although he was smiling, the seed of doubt had been sown. The suggestion that Kitty wished for a complaisant husband he was able to dismiss with as much contempt as he had shown George; a suspicion that she might succumb to the lure of a high title lingered uncomfortably. He met her at Almack’s Assembly Rooms on the following evening, claimed her hand for the boulanger, and chose to sit out the dance with her. The involuntary giggle which escaped her when he complimented her on her new conquest informed him that his suspicion had been unworthy. He said curiously: “I
wish you will tell me, my pretty one, what is this deep game you are playing?”
She turned her wide, disconcerting gaze upon him enquiringly.
“Well?” he said, holding the gaze, a challenge and a laugh in his eyes. “Such an eligible suitor as you have acquired, my dear! They tell me you are for ever in his company. I wonder that Freddy will permit it!”
She sipped her lemonade. “Freddy knows all the games I play,” she replied tranquilly.
“Does he? Poor Freddy! He has my most profound sympathy.” He took her fan from her, and spread it open.
