‘I should not have guessed that, somehow. Strange how one may be mistaken. Or even how two may be mistaken. It will surprise you to hear that I am fond of Léon.’
‘No. She will make a beautiful girl.’
‘Remind me one day to teach you how to achieve a sneer, Hugh. Yours is too pronounced, and thus is but a grimace. It should be but a faint curl of the lips. So. But to resume. You will at least be surprised to hear that I had not thought of Léonie in the light of a beautiful girl.’
‘It amazes me.’
‘That is much better, my dear. You are an apt pupil.’
‘Justin, you are impossible. This is no laughing matter!’
‘Certainly not. You see in me – a strict guardian.’
‘I don’t understand.’
‘I am taking Léonie to England, where I shall place her ’neath my sister’s wing until I have found some discreet lady who will act the part of duenna to my ward, Mademoiselle Léonie de Bonnard. Again the fan expresses my emotions.’ He performed a sweep in the air with it, but Hugh was staring in open-mouthed wonderment.
‘You – your ward! But – why?’
‘Oh, my reputation!’ mourned his Grace. ‘A whim, Hugh, a whim!’
‘You’ll adopt her as your daughter?’
‘As my daughter.’
‘For how long? If it be a whim only –’
‘It is not. I have a reason. Léonie will not leave me until – let us say until she finds a more fitting home.’
‘Until she marries, you mean?’
The thin black brows twitched suddenly together.
‘I did not mean that, but let it stand. All that signifies is that Léonie is as safe in my care as she would be in – I will say yours, for want of a better simile.’
Hugh rose.
‘I – you – Good God, Justin, are you jesting?’
‘I believe not.’
‘You seriously mean what you say?’
‘You seem dazed, my dear.’
‘More like a sheep, than ever, then,’ retorted Hugh, with a quick smile, and held out his hand. ‘If you are honest now – and I think you are –’
‘You overwhelm me,’ murmured his Grace.
‘– you are doing something that is –’
‘– quite unlike anything I have ever done before.’
‘Something that is damned good!’
‘But then you do not know my motives.’
‘I wonder if you yourself know your motives?’ Hugh said quietly.