Faro's Daughter Read online

  `Oh, poor Aunt Lizzie!’ she exclaimed. `No wonder she is so put-about! Of course she would never have the least notion that that horrid man would use them to force me to become his mistress! And I won't! I'll go to prison rather!'

  `Prison is a mighty uncomfortable place, me dear.'

  `He'd not do that I' she said confidently. `This is all conjecture! He has used no threats to me. Indeed, I am very sure he is too proud. But, oh, I would give anything to get those bills out of his hands!’

  He threw her an ironical glance. `I'm thinking you'd best ask your rich new friend to buy 'em back for you, me darlin'. It's delighted I'd be to help you, but my pockets are to let, as well you know.'

  `I wish you will not be absurd!' she said crossly. `It's ten to one I shall never set eyes on Ravenscar again, and if I did - oh, don't be a fool, Lucius, for I'm in no funning humour!’

  The door opened to admit Mortimer. `Mr Ravenscar has called, miss, and desires to see you. I have shown him into the Yellow Saloon.'

  `Faith, it's heaven's answer, Deb!’ said Mr Kennet, chuckling.

  `Mr Ravenscar?' repeated Miss Grantham incredulously. `You must have mistaken!’

  The butler silently held out the salver he was carrying. Miss Grantham picked up the visiting-card on it, and read in astonishment its simple legend. Mr Max Ravenscar ran the flowing script, in coldly engraved letters.

  CHAPTER 5

  Mr Ravenscar was standing by the window in the Yellow Saloon, looking out. He was dressed in topboot; and leather breeches, with a spotted cravat round his throat and a drab-coloured driving-coat with several shoulder-cape reached to his calves. He turned, as Miss Grantham entered, the room, and she saw that some spare whip-lashes were thru; through one of his buttonholes, and that he was carrying a pair of driving-gloves of York tan.

  `Good morning,' he said, coming a few paces to meet her, `Do you care to drive round the Park, Miss Grantham?'

  `Drive round the Park?' she repeated, in a surprised tone.

  `Yes, why not? I am exercising my greys, and came here t beg the honour of your company.'

  She was conscious of a strong inclination to go with hint but said foolishly: `But I am not dressed to go out!'

  `I imagine that might be mended.'

  `True, but-' She broke off, and raised her eyes to his face, `Why do you ask me?' she asked bluntly.

  `Why, from what I saw here last night, ma'am, it would appear to be impossible to be private with you under the roof.'

  `Do you wish to be private with me, Mr Ravenscar?'

  `Very much.'

  She was aware of a most odd sensation, as though a obstruction had leapt suddenly into her throat on purpose t choke her. Her knees felt unaccountably weak, and she knew that she was blushing. `But you barely know me!' she manage to say.

  `That is another circumstance that can be mended. Come Miss Grantham, give me the pleasure of your company, I beg of you!'

  She said with a little difficulty: `You are very good. Indeed I should like to! But I must change my dress, and you will not care to keep your horses standing.'

  `You will observe, if you glance out of this window, that my groom is walking them up and down.'

  `You leave me nothing to say, sir. Grant me ten minute grace, and I will gladly drive out with you.'

  He nodded, and moved to open the door for her. She glanced up at him under her lashes as she passed him and was once more baffled by his expression. He was the strangest creature! Too many men had been attracted to her for her to fail to recognize the particular warm look in a man's eyes when they fell upon the woman of his fancy. It was not in Mr Ravenscar's eyes; but if he had not fallen a victim to her charms what in the world possessed him to invite her to drive out with him?

  It did not take her long to change her chintz gown for a walking dress. A green bonnet with an upstanding poke, and several softly curling ostrich plumes, admirably framed her face, and set off the glory of her chestnut locks. She was conscious of looking her best, and hoped that Mr Ravenscar would think that she did him credit.

  Lady Bellingham, informed of the proposed expedition, wavered between elation and a doubt that her niece ought not to drive out alone with a gentleman she had met but once before in her life; but the obvious advantages of Deborah's fixing Mr Ravenscar's interest soon outweighed all other considerations. Lucius Kennet chose to be amused, and to quiz Miss Grantham unmercifully on having made such an important conquest, but she answered him quite crossly, telling him it was no such thing, and that she thought such jests extremely vulgar.

  It was consequently with a slightly heightened colour that she presently rejoined Ravenscar in the Yellow Saloon. Glancing critically at her, he was obliged to admit that she was a magnificent creature. He accompanied her downstairs to the front door, where they were met by Kennet, who came lounging across the hall to see them off.

  Ravenscar and he exchanged a few civilities, and the groom led the greys up to the door. Mr Kennet inspected them with a knowledgeable eye, while Ravenscar gave Miss Grantham his hand to assist her to mount into the curricle, and said that he should back them to beat Filey's pair.

  They were, indeed, beautiful animals, standing a little over fifteen hands, with small heads, broad chests and thighs, powerful quarters, and good, arched necks.

  'Ah, I'll wager they are sweet goers!' Mr Kennet said, passing a hand over one satin neck.

  `Yes,' Ravenscar acknowledged. `They are beautiful steppers.'

  He got up into the curricle, while the groom still stood to the greys' heads, and spread a rug over Miss Grantham's knees. Taking his whip in his hand, and lightly feeling his horses' mouths, he nodded to the groom. `I shan't need you,' he said briefly. `Servant, Mr Kennet.'

  Both the groom and Kennet stepped back, and the greys, which were restive, plunged forward on the kidney-stones that paved the square.

  `Don't be alarmed I' Ravenscar told Miss Grantham. `They are only a little fresh.'

  `I wonder you can hold them so easily!' she confessed, repressing an instinctive desire to clutch the side of the curricle.

  He smiled, but returned no answer. They swept round the corner into King Street

  , turned westwards, and bowled along in the direction of St James's Street

  .

  There was sufficient traffic abroad to keep Mr Ravenscar's attention fixed on his task, for the greys, though perfectly well-mannered, chose to take high-bred exception to a wagon which was rumbling along at the side of the road, to shy playfully at a sedan, to regard with sudden misgiving a lady's feathered hat, and to decide that the lines of white posts, linked with chains, that separated the footpaths from the kennels and the road, menaced them with a hitherto unsuspected danger. But the gates leading into Hyde Park were reached without mishap, and once within them the greys settled into a fine, forward action, satisfied, apparently, to find themselves in surroundings more suited to their birth and lineage.

  There were several other equipages in the Park, including some phaetons, and a number of barouches. Mr Ravenscar touched his hat every now and then to acquaintances, but presently, drawing away from the other vehicles, he was able to turn his attention to his companion.

  `Are you comfortable, Miss Grantham?'

  `Very. Your carriage is beautifully sprung. Do you drive it in your race?'

  `Oh, no! I have an especially built racing-curricle for that.

  `Shall you win?' she asked, looking up at him with a slight smile.

  `I hope so. Do you mean to hazard your money on my greys?’

  `Oh, I must certainly do so! But I have never the least luck, I must tell you, and shall very likely bring you bad fortune.'

  `I am not afraid of that. Your luck was out last night, but I hope you may come about again.'

  `That is very pretty of you, Mr Ravenscar, but I fear it was my skill rather than my luck which was at fault,' she owned.

  `Perhaps.' He looped his rein dexterously as the greys overtook a gig, and let it run free