The Black Moth Read online

  ‘I doubt but what you caught it the day that Mr Carr left us.’

  Diana started.

  ‘P-pray, do not be ridiculous, auntie!’

  ‘No, my dear. Come and sit beside me and tell me all about it,’ coaxed Miss Betty.

  Diana hesitated, gave a damp sniff, and obeyed.

  Miss Betty drew her head down on to her shoulder soothingly.

  ‘There, there! Don’t cry, my sweet! What has happened?’

  ‘’Tis that odious Mr Bettison!’ sobbed Diana. ‘He – he had the audacity to ask me to m-marry him!’

  ‘You don’t say so, my love! I thought I heard him arrive. So you sent him about his business?’

  ‘N-not before he had time to insult m-me!’

  ‘Insult you? Di!’

  ‘He – he dared to insinuate – oh no! he accused me outright of being infatuated by Mr Carr! Infatuated!’

  Over her head Miss Betty opened her eyes at her own reflection in the glass.

  ‘The brute! But, of course, ’tis true?’

  No answer.

  ‘Is it not?’

  The sobs came faster.

  ‘Of – of course ’tis true, but h-how dared he say so?’

  ‘Di, my love, you really are in love with that boy?’

  ‘I – I – I asked him to marry me – and he wouldn’t!’

  ‘Good gracious heavens!’ Miss Betty was genuinely horrified. ‘My dear Diana!’

  ‘N-not outright – b-but he understood – and – he loves me! And I’d do it again to-morrow, if I could – immodest or no! So there!’

  ‘Yes, yes,’ soothed Miss Betty hastily. ‘Tell me all about it.’

  Diana lifted her head.

  ‘That’s all. And he loves me – he does – he does!’

  ‘Did he say so?’

  ‘N-no – but I could tell. And I love him’ – sob – ‘and I’d sooner die than live without him, and he won’t ask me b-because he has not got a spotless p-past, and he’d be a cur, and horrid things, and my husband must not be an – an – outcast, and – and – and I don’t care!’

  Her bewildered aunt unravelled this with difficulty.

  ‘He’d be a cur if he asked you to marry him?’ she asked with knitted brows.

  ‘Yes. Because he’s a highwayman.’

  ‘A highwayman! Then ’twas true what he said? Well, well! I should never have thought it! That nice boy!’

  Diana disengaged herself; in her eyes was a threatening gleam.

  ‘Don’t dare say a word against him!’

  ‘No, no – of course not! I was only surprised. But I am thankfully glad he did not ask you, for all that!’

  ‘Glad? How can you be so cruel?’

  ‘My dear, you could not possibly marry – a – a –’

  ‘Common felon!’ sobbed Diana. ‘I can – I can!’

  ‘And heaven alone knows what else he may have done! Why, child, he said himself that he had a – a spotty past!’

  At this her niece gave a tearful giggle.

  ‘La! What ails you now, Di?’

  ‘H-he never said – spotty.’

  Miss Betty smiled reluctantly.

  ‘A doubtful past, then.’

  ‘I don’t believe it!’

  Her aunt pursed up her lips.

  ‘I won’t believe it. He couldn’t be wicked. You forget he saved me!’

  Miss Betty relented.

  ‘No, I do not, my love; and, to be sure, I think he is a dear boy, but I also think ’twas very right of him to go away.’

  She was enveloped in a rapturous embrace.

  ‘Auntie, you know you love him almost as much as I do?’

  ‘No, that I do not!’ was the grim retort. ‘I am not like to marry him!’

  There was another watery giggle at this, and Diana went over to the dressing-table to tidy her hair.

  ‘I doubt I shall ever see him again,’ she said wretchedly. ‘Oh, auntie, if you could but have seen his dear, unhappy eyes!’

  ‘Stuff and nonsense! Not see him again, forsooth! He will call upon us in town. ’Tis but common politeness.’

  ‘You forget he is a highwayman, and not like to come nigh us again.’

  ‘Well, my dear, if he cares for you as you say he does, he will see to it that he takes up some decent occupation. Mayhap, he will go into the army, or what not. Then wait and see if he does not come to you.’

  ‘Do you think so?’ doubtfully.

  ‘Of course I do, sweetheart! And if he does not try to mend his ways, and you see him no more – why then, snap your fingers at him, my love, for he will not be worth one tear!’

  Diana sighed and poured out some water to bathe her face with.

  ‘Is not that sensible?’ coaxed her aunt.

  She raised her head and looked unutterable scorn.

  ‘I think ’tis remarkable silly,’ she answered. Then her dignity fell from her. ‘Oh, are all men such big stupids?’ she cried.

  ‘Most of ’em,’ nodded her aunt.

  ‘But can’t he tell that I shall be – oh, so miserable and that I should not ruin my life if I married him?’

  ‘My dear, once a man gets an idea into his head, ’tis the very devil to get it out of him! Not but what I think Master Jack is right, mind you. And your dear papa and I had looked higher for you. After all – what is Mr Carr?’

  ‘He is the only man I will ever marry! So you may cease looking higher for me! I suppose you want me to marry that great gaby, Sir Denis Fabian, you are for ever inviting to the house? Or, perhaps, this gallant Mr Bettison? Or Mr Everard? How can you be so unkind?’

  ‘I am not. But I could not bear to see you throw yourself away on a highwayman, my dear.’

  Diana ran to her, putting her arms round her neck.

  ‘Dearest auntie, forgive my rudeness! I know you did not mean to be unkind! But you do not understand – I love him.’

  ‘I always said you’d take it badly,’ nodded Miss Betty gloomily.

  ‘Take what badly?’

  ‘Love. And no man is worth one tear-drop, sweet.’

  The confident, tender little laugh that answered this statement made her look at her suddenly changed niece in surprise.

  ‘You don’t know,’ said Diana. Her eyes were soft and luminous. ‘You just do not know.’

  Before Miss Betty could think of a suitable retort, a knock fell on the door. It was opened, and Thomas was found to be without.

  ‘My Lady O’Hara is below, madam.’

  For an instant the two ladies stared at one another. Then:

  ‘La and drat!’ said Miss Betty. ‘With the drawing-room in a muddle after cleaning!’

  Diana nodded to the man.

  ‘We will come, Thomas.’ Then as soon as he had withdrawn, she stared again at her aunt. ‘Lady O’Hara! But why?’

  ‘I suppose she felt she must call after Sir Miles had been here so often. But why, for goodness’ sake, must she choose the one day that the drawing-room is all untidy? Drat again, I say!’

  Diana was powdering her little nose, and anxiously looking to see if the tear-stains had quite vanished.

  ‘’Tis not untidy, Aunt Betty. Oh, I am quite eager to see her – I think she must be charming, from all Sir Miles said. Do hurry, aunt!’

  Miss Betty stuck a pin into her hair and smoothed out her dress.

  ‘And me in this old taffeta!’ she grumbled.

  Diana swirled round, her own peach-coloured silk rustling fashionably.

  ‘Never mind, dear – you look very sweet. But do be quick!’

  Miss Betty suffered herself to be led to the door.

  ‘’Tis all very fine for you, my love, with a new gown fresh on to-day! Will you just take a look at my petticoat, though?’