CHAPTER XVI
Letitia and her escort pulled up their horses at the top of Rotten Row.Letitia was a little out of breath, but her colour was delightful, andthe slight disarrangement of her tightly coiled brown hair mostbecoming.
"It was dear of you, Charlie, to think of lending me a hack," shedeclared. "I haven't enjoyed a gallop so much for ages. When we getdown to Mandeleys I am going to raid Bailey's stables. He always hassome young horses."
"Want schooling a bit before they're fit to ride," Grantham observed.
"If I had been born in another walk of life," Letitia said, "I am surehorse-breaking would have been my profession. You haven't been in tosee us for ages, Charles."
"You weren't particularly gracious the last time I did come," hereminded her gloomily.
"Don't be silly," she laughed. "You must have come on an irritatingafternoon. I get into such a terrible tangle sometimes with myhousekeeping accounts up here. You know how impossible dad is withmoney matters, and he leaves everything to me."
The young man cleared his throat.
"I think you've borne the burdens of the family long enough," heremarked. "I wish you'd try mine."
"You do choose the most original forms of proposal," Letitiaacknowledged frankly. "As a matter of fact, I have had enough ofkeeping accounts. I have almost made up my mind that when I do marry,if I ever do, I will marry some one enormously wealthy, who can affordto let me have a secretary-steward as well as a housekeeper."
"You've been thinking of that fellow Thain," he muttered.
"Oh, no, I haven't!" she replied. "Mr. Thain is a very pleasantperson, but I can assure you that I have never considered himmatrimonially. I suppose I ought to have done," she went on, "but, youknow, I am just a little old-fashioned."
"I can't see what's the matter with me," the young man saiddisconsolately. "I've a bit of my own, a screw from my job, and thegovernor allows me a trifle. We might work it up to ten thousand ayear. We ought to be able to make a start on that."
"It is positive wealth," Letitia acknowledged, "but I am sure you don'twant me really, and I haven't the least inclination to get married, andheaven knows what would happen to dad if I let him go back to bachelorapartments!"
"He'd take care of himself all right," Letitia's suitor observedconfidently.
"Would he!" she replied. "I am not at all sure. Our menkind alwaysseem to have gone on sowing their wild oats most vigorously aftermiddle age. Of course, if Ada Honeywell would marry him, I might feela little easier in my mind."
"Ada won't marry any one," Grantham declared, "and I am perfectlycertain, if she were willing, your father wouldn't marry her. She'stoo boisterous."
"Poor woman!" Letitia sighed. "She's immensely rich, but, you see, shehas no past--I mean no pedigree. I am afraid it's out of the question."
"I wish you would chuck rotting and marry me, Letitia," he begged."There's a little house in Pont Street--suit us down to the ground."
Letitia found herself gazing over the tops of the more distant trees.
"We are going down to Mandeleys in a few days," she said presently."I'll take myself seriously to task there. I suppose I must reallywant to be married only I don't know it. Don't be surprised if you geta telegram from me any day."
"I'd come down there myself, if I had an invitation," he suggested.
She shook her head.
"Charlie," she declared, "it couldn't be done. So far as I can see atpresent, unless some of the tenantry offer their services fornothing--and our tenantry aren't like that--we shall have to keep housewith about half a dozen servants, which means of course, only opening afew rooms. As a matter of fact, we shan't be able to go at all, unlessMr. Thain pays his rent for Broomleys in advance."
They turned out of the Park and not a word passed between them againuntil Letitia descended from her horse in Grosvenor Square.
"You were a dear to think of this, Charles," she said, standing on thesteps and smiling at him. "I haven't enjoyed anything so much for along time."
"You wouldn't care about a theatre this evening?" he proposed.
"Come in at tea time and see how I am feeling," she suggested. "I havedad rather on my hands. He has been wandering about like a lost sheep,the last few afternoons. I can't think what is wrong."
She strolled across the hall and looked in at the study. The Marquiswas seated in an easy-chair, reading a volume of Memoirs. She crossedthe room towards him.
"Father," she exclaimed, "you ought to have been out a beautifulmorning like this."
The Marquis laid down his book. He was certainly looking a littletired. Letitia came up to his side and patted his hand.
"How's the gout?" she asked.
"Better," he replied, examining the offending finger.
"You're just lazy, I believe," Letitia observed reprovingly. "Thesooner we get down to Mandeleys the better."
The Marquis glanced at a silver-framed calendar which stood upon thetable. He had glanced at it about a hundred times during the last fewdays.
"A little country air," he confessed, "will be very agreeable. I thinkperhaps, too," he went on, "that I am inclined to be weary of London.It is more of a city, after all, isn't it, for the bourgeois rich thanfor a penniless Marquis. Where did you get your mount from, dear?"
"Charlie lent me a hack," she replied. "I've had a perfectlydelightful ride."
"You have not yet arrived, I suppose," her father went on, "at anyfixed matrimonial intentions with regard to Charlie?"
She shook her head a little dejectedly.
"It's so hard," she confessed. "I am dying to say 'yes,' especially,somehow, during the last few days, but somehow I can't. I think itmust be his fault," she added resentfully. "He doesn't ask meproperly."
"You'll find some one will be taking him off your hands before long,"her father warned her. "Personally, I have no objection to find withthe alliance."
"Of course," Letitia complained, "it's very clear what you are thinkingof! You want your bachelor apartments in the Albany again, and the gaylife. I really feel that it is my duty to remain a spinster and lookafter you."
The Marquis smiled. Once more his eyes glanced towards the calendar.
"Better ask Charlie down to Mandeleys and settle it with him there," hesuggested.
"That's just what he wants," she sighed. "If we begin a house partythere, though, think what a picnic it will be! And besides, SylviaLaycey is sure to be somewhere about, and he'll probably fall in lovewith her again. I do wish I could make up my mind. What are you doingto-night, dad?"
"I am dining with Montavon," her father replied, "at the club. He hasa party of four for whist."
"Dear old things!" Letitia murmured affectionately. "I hope you haveSheffield plate candlesticks on the table. Why not go in fancydress--one of those Georgian Court dresses, you know--black velvetknickerbockers, a sword and peruke! Much better let me give you alesson at auction bridge."
The Marquis shivered.
"You play the game?" he asked politely.
"I tried it as a means of subsistence," Letitia confessed, "but mypartners always did such amazing things that I found there was nothingin it. If you are really dining out, dad, I shall go to the play withCharlie."
"Alone?"
"Don't be silly, dear," Letitia protested, flicking her whip."Remember what that wicked old lady wrote in her memoirs--'Balhamrequires a chaperon, but Grosvenor Square never.' I shall try and getused to him this evening. I may even have wonderful news for you inthe morning."
The Marquis took up his book again.
"I wish, my dear, that I could believe it," he told her fervently.
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