him.”
“Nor is there about Tony, as I’ve already told you, John,” retorted Sadie. But she showed immediate interest in his pronouncement. ‘“You say that Rollo is hanging out for Sophie, do you? I know the boy. Keeps good company, they say, and there’s no denying his talents. Has a good seat and shows exceptional riding skill in the field, I’m told.” She glanced at Sophie, but found her niece’s face expressionless.
Sir John smiled and gestured to his daughter. “There, Sophie, haven’t I been telling you just that.”
But his sister’s next remark held a note of caution. “I am a bit surprised to hear it, John, nevertheless. I would have expected Rollo to be looking out for a richer wife.”
Sir John responded huffily, “Sophie’s portion is quite decent enough, Sadie. You should know me better than to think I would not have provided for my own daughter.”
“Oh, it’s not that, John,” she said swiftly. “It is just that I had heard Rollo’s estates were in none too good repair. And he does live expensively.”
Sir John growled his rejection of the idea. “Nonsense, Sadie. Perhaps you have not heard that the boy stands to inherit a considerable fortune from his aunt. Any day so, in fact, if rumours of her poor health are accurate. I have counselled him against post-obiting, and he accepted my advice with admirable attentiveness. The case cannot be as bad as you say.”
Sadie accepted the information reservedly. “In that case, I apologize, John. Perhaps it is not so bad, as you say. I only mention it because I would not want Sophie to find herself without enough blunt for her own comfort.”
Sir John was appeased, but he changed the subject with a haste that suggested he was not disposed to delve further into the topic. “No need to fear that, Sadie. Well, at any rate, you will be seeing the boy later. He tells me he has a special surprise for Sophie.”
At these words, his daughter squirmed uncomfortably. In fact, the whole previous conversation had distressed her in the extreme. She could not, in all politeness, dispute her father’s reading of the situation in front of his sister, but she resolved to try her utmost to convince Sir John privately that she had no particular fondness for Mr. Rollo.
At that moment, however, the first of the guests was announced, and she was kept busy accepting the happy wishes and flowers that the small but continuous stream of visitors brought with them. Tony was among the earliest arrivals, but he carried no flowers with him. However, he did ask for the pleasure of taking her in to dinner. Sophie agreed, happily relieved that Tony had made the request before Mr. Rollo appeared. That young man, however, was the last to arrive, with a confident expectation of welcome which Sophie’s father did nothing to belie.
“Ah, there you are, Rollo, my boy,” said Sir John heartily. “We had almost given up on you. I understand you are acquainted with my sister, Sarah Brewster.”
“Of course,” answered Rollo with suave courtesy. “Delighted to see you again, Mrs. Brewster. I believe the last time we met was at a race meeting outside Tonbridge Wells. At that time, though, I had no expectation of becoming so happily acquainted with your brother’s family.”
“I remember,” Sadie said, nodding. “You lost rather a handsome purse that day as I recall.” She looked up at him quizzically.
“Ah, yes,” he said with seemingly little concern. “A mistake in judgement on my part. But even the best of sportsmen are given to occasional errors. I have been more careful in placing my bets since then.”
“Excellent boy!” said Sir John. “But we should not keep you talking here. You will want to pay your respects to Sophie. Here she is now.” Sophie had stepped forward to greet her new guest as she had done for all the others, but Mr. Rollo took her extended hand with an air of having received a special distinction.
“Miss Corby, my
“Nor is there about Tony, as I’ve already told you, John,” retorted Sadie. But she showed immediate interest in his pronouncement. ‘“You say that Rollo is hanging out for Sophie, do you? I know the boy. Keeps good company, they say, and there’s no denying his talents. Has a good seat and shows exceptional riding skill in the field, I’m told.” She glanced at Sophie, but found her niece’s face expressionless.
Sir John smiled and gestured to his daughter. “There, Sophie, haven’t I been telling you just that.”
But his sister’s next remark held a note of caution. “I am a bit surprised to hear it, John, nevertheless. I would have expected Rollo to be looking out for a richer wife.”
Sir John responded huffily, “Sophie’s portion is quite decent enough, Sadie. You should know me better than to think I would not have provided for my own daughter.”
“Oh, it’s not that, John,” she said swiftly. “It is just that I had heard Rollo’s estates were in none too good repair. And he does live expensively.”
Sir John growled his rejection of the idea. “Nonsense, Sadie. Perhaps you have not heard that the boy stands to inherit a considerable fortune from his aunt. Any day so, in fact, if rumours of her poor health are accurate. I have counselled him against post-obiting, and he accepted my advice with admirable attentiveness. The case cannot be as bad as you say.”
Sadie accepted the information reservedly. “In that case, I apologize, John. Perhaps it is not so bad, as you say. I only mention it because I would not want Sophie to find herself without enough blunt for her own comfort.”
Sir John was appeased, but he changed the subject with a haste that suggested he was not disposed to delve further into the topic. “No need to fear that, Sadie. Well, at any rate, you will be seeing the boy later. He tells me he has a special surprise for Sophie.”
At these words, his daughter squirmed uncomfortably. In fact, the whole previous conversation had distressed her in the extreme. She could not, in all politeness, dispute her father’s reading of the situation in front of his sister, but she resolved to try her utmost to convince Sir John privately that she had no particular fondness for Mr. Rollo.
At that moment, however, the first of the guests was announced, and she was kept busy accepting the happy wishes and flowers that the small but continuous stream of visitors brought with them. Tony was among the earliest arrivals, but he carried no flowers with him. However, he did ask for the pleasure of taking her in to dinner. Sophie agreed, happily relieved that Tony had made the request before Mr. Rollo appeared. That young man, however, was the last to arrive, with a confident expectation of welcome which Sophie’s father did nothing to belie.
“Ah, there you are, Rollo, my boy,” said Sir John heartily. “We had almost given up on you. I understand you are acquainted with my sister, Sarah Brewster.”
“Of course,” answered Rollo with suave courtesy. “Delighted to see you again, Mrs. Brewster. I believe the last time we met was at a race meeting outside Tonbridge Wells. At that time, though, I had no expectation of becoming so happily acquainted with your brother’s family.”
“I remember,” Sadie said, nodding. “You lost rather a handsome purse that day as I recall.” She looked up at him quizzically.
“Ah, yes,” he said with seemingly little concern. “A mistake in judgement on my part. But even the best of sportsmen are given to occasional errors. I have been more careful in placing my bets since then.”
“Excellent boy!” said Sir John. “But we should not keep you talking here. You will want to pay your respects to Sophie. Here she is now.” Sophie had stepped forward to greet her new guest as she had done for all the others, but Mr. Rollo took her extended hand with an air of having received a special distinction.
“Miss Corby, my
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