Léonie looked up at him suspiciously.
‘You’ll not go?’
‘I will not.’
‘Promise! Please, you must promise!’
‘This passion for oaths and promises!’ sighed Avon. ‘I promise, my infant.’
Léonie released his hand then, and went into the adjoining room. Avon shut the door behind her, and turned to face his wrathful sister. From his pocket he drew his fan, and spread it open.
‘You are really very foolish, my dear,’ he said, and came to the fire.
‘I am at least respectable! I think it very unkind and insulting of you to bring your – your –’
‘Yes, Fanny? My – ?’
‘Oh, your ward ! It’s not decent! Edward will be very, very angry, and I hate you!’
‘Now that you have unburdened yourself of that sentiment no doubt you will allow me to explain.’ His Grace’s eyes were nearly shut, and his thin lips sneered.
‘I do not want an explanation! I want you to take that creature away!’
‘When I have told my story, and if you still wish it, I will take her away. Sit down, Fanny. The expression of outraged virtue is enti
rely wasted on me.’
She flounced into a chair.
‘I think you are very unkind! If Edward comes in he will be furious.’
‘Then let us hope that he will not come in. Your profile is enchanting, my dear, but I would sooner see both your eyes.’
‘Oh, Justin!’ She clasped her hands, anger forgotten. ‘You think it enchanting still? I vow, I thought I looked a positive fright when I looked in the mirror this morning! ’Tis age, I suppose. Oh, I am forgetting to be angry with you! Indeed, I am so thankful to see you again I cannot be cross! But you must explain, Justin.’
‘I will start mine explanation, Fanny, with an announcement. I am not in love with Léonie. If you will believe that it will make matters more simple.’ He tossed the fan on the couch, and drew out his snuff-box.
‘But – but if you are not in love with her, why – what – Justin, I don’t understand! You are most provoking!’
‘Pray accept my most humble apologies. I have a reason for adopting the child.’
‘Is she French? Where did she learn to speak English? I wish you would explain!’
‘I am endeavouring to do so, my dear. Allow me to say that you give me very little opportunity.’
She pouted.
‘Now you are cross. Well, start, Justin! The child is pretty enough, I grant you.’
‘Thank you. I found her in Paris one evening, clad as a boy, and fleeing from her unpleasant – er – brother. It transpired that this brother and his inestimable wife had made the child masquerade as a boy ever since her twelfth year. She was thus of more use to them. They kept a low tavern, you see.’
Fanny cast up her eyes.
‘A tavern-wench!’ She shuddered, and raised her scented handkerchief to her nose.
‘Precisely. In a fit of – let us say – quixotic madness, I bought Léonie, or Léon, as she called herself, and took her home with me. She became my page. I assure you she created no little interest in polite circles. It pleased me to keep her a boy for a time. She imagined that I was in ignorance of her sex. I became a hero to her. Yes, is it not amusing?’
‘It is horrid! Of course the girl hopes to intrigue you. La, Justin, how can you be such a fool?’