The Black Moth: A Romance of the XVIIIth Century Read online

  CHAPTER XIII

  MY LORD MAKES HIS BOW

  After Jim's arrival my lord recovered quickly, each day making greatprogress, much to the doctor's satisfaction, who never tired of tellingMr. Beauleigh and Miss Betty that it was entirely owing to his treatmentthat the patient had recovered at all. As his idea of treatment mainlyconsisted of copiously bleeding John, which process Miss Betty very soonput an end to, he and she had many arguments on the subject, in which hewas completely routed. She held that Mr. Carr was well on the strengthof her nursing and his own constitution--and very probably she wasright. In any case, hardly a fortnight after O'Hara's first visit, mylord was standing before his mirror, surveying himself, with his headspeculatively on one side and a worried look in his eyes. Salter watchedhim anxiously, knowing this to be a critical moment. His master wassomewhat of an enigma to him; the important things in life neverappeared to affect him, but over a question of two cravats as opposed toeach other, or some equally trivial matter, he would become quiteharassed.

  After contemplating his appearance for several moments, Carstaresfrowned and looked over his shoulder.

  "I have changed my mind, Jim. I will wear blue after all." Salter sigheddespairingly.

  "Ye look very well in what ye have on, sir," he grunted. Jack sat downobstinately.

  "I have conceived a dislike--nay, a veritable hatred--for puce. I willwear blue."

  "Now, sir, do ha' done changing your clothes! Ye'll be tired out beforeever ye get downstairs, and ye know what the doctor said."

  My lord consigned the doctor and his words of wisdom to a place of greatheat.

  "Ay, sir, but--"

  "The doctor is a worthy individual, Jim, but he knows even less of theart of dressing than you do. He does not understand the soul-agony of aman who makes his first appearance in puce."

  "But--"

  "The blue coat laced with gold."

  "Sir--"

  "I order it! I insist; the blue coat or nought!"

  "Very well, sir." Resignedly Jim walked to the cupboard.

  When at length his lordship was dressed to his entire satisfaction itwas midway through the hot June afternoon, and Miss Betty was tapping atthe door, wishing to know whether Mr. Carr was coming down, or whetherhe was not.

  Carstares shifted his sling, and taking up his hat, moved just a littleshakily to the door.

  Salter opened it, and cast a triumphant glance at Miss Betty, as thoughhe were showing off all my lord's graces. He proffered an arm.

  "Shall I help ye, sir?"

  Miss Betty curtsied low.

  "La, Mr. Carr!"

  John bowed profoundly.

  "Give ye good den, madam," he said. "I am just about to descend. Thankyou, Jim." He leaned heavily on the man's arm.

  Miss Betty walked round him admiringly.

  "Lud! 'Tis mighty elegant, I vow! But I protest, I am shy!"

  "Egad, Miss Betty! and why?"

  "You are not so young as I imagined," she replied candidly.

  "Bear in mind, madam, that I never sought to deceive you. I am an agedman."

  "Thirty!" she scoffed, and went on ahead. "Come, child, and mind thefirst step!"

  At the bottom of the staircase stood Mr. Beauleigh, a man of mediumheight, thin-lipped and grey-eyed. He came forward with one handoutstretched.

  "I am delighted to see you so much better, sir. I trust your shoulder nolonger pains you?"

  My lord pushed Jim gently to one side and placed his hand in Mr.Beauleigh's.

  "I thank you, sir, it is almost well. But for Miss Betty, who, I fear,has the makings of a true tyrant, I should not wear this obnoxioussling."

  Mr. Beauleigh smiled a little.

  "Ah, yes, she keeps us all in order, does Betty. Pray, will you not walka little in the garden? There are chairs on the lawn--and here is mydaughter."

  He waved to the door, and Carstares, turning, beheld Diana.

  She stood framed by the dark wood, gowned in amber silk, with old lacefalling from her elbows and over the bosom of her dress. Her hair wasdark as night, with little tendrils curling over her broad, white brow.One rolling curl fell over her shoulder, the rest were gathered up undera small lace cap, which was secured by means of a riband passed beneathher chin.

  Jack gazed, and gazed again, and in her turn Diana studied him with widebrown eyes of almost childlike innocence. Then her lids fluttered andcurling lashes veiled the glorious depths, as a slow blush mounted toher cheeks.

  My lord recovered his manners and made his most approved leg as herfather presented him.

  "My love, this is Mr. Carr--"

  Diana sank into a curtsey.

  "--and, Mr. Carr, this is my daughter, Diana."

  "I am delighted to make Miss Beauleigh's acquaintance," said John, andraised her hand to his lips.

  The delicate, tapering fingers trembled a little in his hold, andtremulous lips parted in the shyest and most adorable smile that he hadever seen.

  "Indeed, sir, we are already acquainted. I am not like to forget myrescuer."

  "I am happy to think that I was able to be of some service to you,mademoiselle. Believe me, it was an honour to fight in your cause." Hiseyes were on the fascinating dimple that played about her mouth.

  "'Tis very kind of you to say so, sir. I fear we greatly incommodedyou--and--" She made a gesture towards his sling.

  "That, mademoiselle, is less than nothing. All the obligation is on myside."

  Miss Betty bustled forward.

  "Now that will do! I never heard such a foolish set of compliments! Youare looking tired, Mr. Carr; come into the garden and rest."

  Salter stepped forward, but Diana stayed him with uplifted finger.

  "If Mr. Carr will accept my arm?" she hazarded.

  Jack flushed.

  "Indeed, no, Miss Beauleigh--I can--"

  "Oh, tut-tut!" cried Miss Betty. "Have done dilly-dallying! Take himout, Di!"

  Mr. Beauleigh had already disappeared. His world lay in his library, andhe was never far from it for any length of time. Now he had seized themoment when his sister was not looking to withdraw quietly, and, whenshe turned round, she was only in time to see the library door closesoftly.

  "Your papa has gone again," she remarked to her niece. "What a tryingman he is, to be sure!"

  She followed the pair out on to the lawn, and helped to make Carstaresseat himself in a long chair under a great elm. A cushion was placedunder his wounded shoulder and another at his back.

  "And are you sure that you are quite comfortable?" inquired Miss Betty,anxiously bending over him.

  Jack laughed up at her.

  "Quite sure, thank you, madam. But where will you sit?"

  "I shall sit in this chair, and Di will sit on a cushion"--throwing onedown--"at my feet--so."

  "I see that you are all ruled with a rod of iron, mademoiselle," hesaid, and watched the dimple tremble into being.

  "Indeed, yes, sir. 'Tis very sad."

  Miss Betty chuckled, and unrolled a packet of silks which she threw intoher niece's lap.

  "Will you have the goodness to sort those for me, love?" she asked,taking out her embroidery.

  "Pray allow me to assist!" pleaded John.

  Diana rose and planted her cushion down beside his chair. She then kneltdown upon it and emptied the multi-coloured strands on to his knee.

  "Very well! You must be very careful to separate the different pinks,though. See, we will have the rose here, the salmon here, the deeperrose here, the pale pink over there, and the reds--there is no moreroom--we will put the reds in this paper."

  "Certainly," agreed Carstares. "Are we to leave the other colours untilthe pinks are sorted?"

  She nodded and bent her head over the silks.

  "Is Sir Miles coming this afternoon, Mr. Carr?"

  "Why yes, Miss Betty--now you mention it, I remember that he is. MissBeauleigh, I defy you to put that one on the rose pile; 'tis a shade toodeep."

  "I am sure 'tis not! Where i