"Not Tracy's. 'Twas my own wish."
"Fostered by his influence?"
"Oh, no!"
"You never loved Carstares-"
"I did! I do!"
"You may think so, but I know better. Why, he is not even suited to you! You were made for life and pleasure and hazard! With me you would have had all that; with him-"
She had risen to her feet and drawn nearer to him, her eyes sparkling, but now she covered her ears with her hands and stamped pettishly.
"I will not listen! I will not, I tell you! Oh, you are unkind to plague me so!"
Lovelace took her into his arms once more, and drawing down her hands, kissed her again and again. She resisted, trying to thrust him off, but she was crushed against him, and he would have kissed her again, had not there come an interruption.
A knock fell on the door, and the footman announced: "His Grace of Andover, m'lady!"
The guilty pair sprang apart in the nick of time, she fiery red, he pale, but composed.
His Grace stood in the doorway, his quizzing glass raised inquiringly. His eyes went swiftly from one to the other and widened. He bowed elaborately.
"My dear Lavinia! Captain Lovelace, your very obedient!"
Lovelace returned the bow with much flourish.
"Your Grace!"
"Dear me, Tracy!" cried Lavinia, advancing. "What an unexpected visit!"
"I trust I have not arrived at an inopportune moment, my dear?"
"Oh, no!" she assured him. "I am quite charmed to see you! But at such an early hour-! I confess, it quite astonishes me!" She brought him to a chair, chattering like a child, and so innocent was his expression, so smiling his attitude towards the Captain, that she imagined that he suspected nothing, and had not noticed her blushes.
It was only when Lovelace had departed that she was undeceived. Then, when his Grace moved to a chair opposite her, she saw that he was frowning slightly.
"You-you are put out over something, Tracy?" she asked nervously.
The frown deepened.
"N-no. I am not 'put out.' I merely anticipate the sensation."
"I-I don't understand. What mean you?"
"At present, nothing."
"Tracy, please do not be mysterious! Are you like to be put out?"
"I trust not, Lavinia."
"But what annoys you?"
Instead of answering, he put a question: "I hope you amused yourself well-last night, my dear sister?"
She flushed. Last night had been Lady Davenant's masquerade, to which Lord Robert had conducted her. She had danced almost exclusively with Lovelace the whole evening, but as they were both masked, she was rather surprised at the question.
"I enjoyed myself quite tolerably, thank you. You were there?"