Alistair,”Lillian assured the Tory. “We have enough chance to observe him that we know pretty well what he is up to.”
“One would take me for a candidate to hear me so traduced,”Hudson marveled. “But on the Sabbath, at least I can think of other things.”
“Miss Watters suggests I take the reading next Sunday, Mr. Hudson,”Alistair said. “Have you already booked Fellows for the job, or will it be worth my while to speak to Dr. Everett?”
“Miss Watters suggested it, did she?”Hudson asked, casting an accusing glance at Lillian. “Are you changing horses in mid-stream, ma’am? A dangerous stunt. I see I must get busy and whip you into line.”Then he turned to Alistair and added, “Fellows is booked for the duration.”
“It is clear neither of you has a thought for politics on this day of rest,”Lillian said ironically.
“Have you caught any more potatoes?”Sara asked Alistair, and he began a private flirtation with her, leaving Lillian free to monopolize Mr. Hudson.
“What a low trick to play,”Hudson said to her.
“You will empty every pew in the church if you have Fellows reading to us all month.”
“I don’t refer to that particular low trick, but to your other one of setting up a flirtation with Sara’s beau. I do occasionally give a thought to something beyond politics you know.”
“Was it not politics you were discussing with Miss Ratchett just now?”she asked.
“Offense is the best defense. Is that it? Very well, I have set up a flirtation with Miss Ratchett, and if you forgive me, I shall forgive you. But I doubt Sara will be so lenient with you.”
“I don’t consider it a matter for forgiveness on either side.”
“Not unforgivable, surely? You can’t be so hardhearted as that.”
“It has nothing to do with forgiveness. We are both free individuals and may flirt with whomever we like.”
“Whomever! What a school-teacherish touch you give your broadmindedness,”he said with a laugh. “Well, I am not so broadminded and take it very much amiss in you to be flirting with Alistair while my back is turned.”
He was clearly not through using her yet, trying to jolly her along in this cunning manner. She sniffed and said, “You are wasting precious time, Mr. Hudson, and don’t bother to pretend you aren’t politicking, Sunday or no. There are the corn merchants without a soul whispering in their ears. Seven votes for you to toady up to.”
He wrinkled a brow and frowned at her bad humor. “I’ll get around to them. First things first. I have already twisted the arms and, I hope, votes of three merchants . . .”
“First things first!”
“Oh yes, I walked right into that one, didn’t I? But in any case I feel all my recent efforts have earned me a reward. As I find you unoccupied, I would like to claim it now. I like to mix a little pleasure with my business when I can.”
“I have noticed it.”
“I hoped it might not escape your notice that I come to you as often as I can.”
“Or to any halfway presentable female who is unattached. But I have no influence and no vote, so you can mix little business with the pleasure of speaking to me.”
“It is the unalloyed pleasure of your conversation that attracts me. I come to bask myself in the glow of your insults and innuendo.”
“With all the other women—you will notice I don’t limit your coterie to ladies—puffing you up in your own conceit, you can well do with a little deflating.”
“You have noticed how badly Mr. Saunders’s hat fits my swollen head. But really, you know, the Baxter I brought with me still fits to a T.”
“The swelling had set in before you got to Crockett then.”
“Never at a loss for a quick set-down. Poor Fellows could do with some of your wit.”
“He seems to be doing pretty well with yours. Alistair says he is doing better than they expected in any case.”
“He’ll make a fair puppet once we get him to London. His memory is not too bad.”
Peeved
“One would take me for a candidate to hear me so traduced,”Hudson marveled. “But on the Sabbath, at least I can think of other things.”
“Miss Watters suggests I take the reading next Sunday, Mr. Hudson,”Alistair said. “Have you already booked Fellows for the job, or will it be worth my while to speak to Dr. Everett?”
“Miss Watters suggested it, did she?”Hudson asked, casting an accusing glance at Lillian. “Are you changing horses in mid-stream, ma’am? A dangerous stunt. I see I must get busy and whip you into line.”Then he turned to Alistair and added, “Fellows is booked for the duration.”
“It is clear neither of you has a thought for politics on this day of rest,”Lillian said ironically.
“Have you caught any more potatoes?”Sara asked Alistair, and he began a private flirtation with her, leaving Lillian free to monopolize Mr. Hudson.
“What a low trick to play,”Hudson said to her.
“You will empty every pew in the church if you have Fellows reading to us all month.”
“I don’t refer to that particular low trick, but to your other one of setting up a flirtation with Sara’s beau. I do occasionally give a thought to something beyond politics you know.”
“Was it not politics you were discussing with Miss Ratchett just now?”she asked.
“Offense is the best defense. Is that it? Very well, I have set up a flirtation with Miss Ratchett, and if you forgive me, I shall forgive you. But I doubt Sara will be so lenient with you.”
“I don’t consider it a matter for forgiveness on either side.”
“Not unforgivable, surely? You can’t be so hardhearted as that.”
“It has nothing to do with forgiveness. We are both free individuals and may flirt with whomever we like.”
“Whomever! What a school-teacherish touch you give your broadmindedness,”he said with a laugh. “Well, I am not so broadminded and take it very much amiss in you to be flirting with Alistair while my back is turned.”
He was clearly not through using her yet, trying to jolly her along in this cunning manner. She sniffed and said, “You are wasting precious time, Mr. Hudson, and don’t bother to pretend you aren’t politicking, Sunday or no. There are the corn merchants without a soul whispering in their ears. Seven votes for you to toady up to.”
He wrinkled a brow and frowned at her bad humor. “I’ll get around to them. First things first. I have already twisted the arms and, I hope, votes of three merchants . . .”
“First things first!”
“Oh yes, I walked right into that one, didn’t I? But in any case I feel all my recent efforts have earned me a reward. As I find you unoccupied, I would like to claim it now. I like to mix a little pleasure with my business when I can.”
“I have noticed it.”
“I hoped it might not escape your notice that I come to you as often as I can.”
“Or to any halfway presentable female who is unattached. But I have no influence and no vote, so you can mix little business with the pleasure of speaking to me.”
“It is the unalloyed pleasure of your conversation that attracts me. I come to bask myself in the glow of your insults and innuendo.”
“With all the other women—you will notice I don’t limit your coterie to ladies—puffing you up in your own conceit, you can well do with a little deflating.”
“You have noticed how badly Mr. Saunders’s hat fits my swollen head. But really, you know, the Baxter I brought with me still fits to a T.”
“The swelling had set in before you got to Crockett then.”
“Never at a loss for a quick set-down. Poor Fellows could do with some of your wit.”
“He seems to be doing pretty well with yours. Alistair says he is doing better than they expected in any case.”
“He’ll make a fair puppet once we get him to London. His memory is not too bad.”
Peeved
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