‘Justin?’ said Marling. ‘Oh!’ His voice was polite, but not enthusiastic. ‘I thought he was in Paris.’
‘So he was, until a day or two ago, and if you are minded to be disagreeable, Edward, I shall cry. I am very fond of Justin!’
‘Ay, dear. Go on with your tale. What has the girl, whoever she is, to do with Avon?’
‘That is just the astonishing part of it!’ said Fanny, her brow clearing as if by magic. ‘She is Justin’s adopted daughter! Is it not interesting, Edward?’
‘What? ’ Marling’s arm fell away from her. ‘Justin’s what?’
‘Adopted daughter,’ she answered airily. ‘The sweetest child, my dear, and so devoted to him! I declare I quite love her already, although she is so lovely, and – oh, Edward, don’t be cross!’
Edward took her by the shoulders, and made her look up at him.
‘Fanny, do you mean to tell me that Alastair had the effrontery to bring the girl here? And you were mad enough to take her in?’
‘Indeed, sir, and why not?’ she demanded. ‘A pretty thing ’twould be an I turned away my brother’s ward!’
‘Ward!’ Marling almost snorted.
‘Yes, sir, his ward. Oh, I’ll not deny I thought the same as you when first I saw her, but Justin swore ’twas not so. And Edward, you know how strict Justin is with me. You can’t be cross! Why, ’tis but a child, and half a boy at that!’
‘Half a boy, Fanny? What mean you?’
‘She has been a boy for seven years,’ said Fanny triumphantly. Then, as the lines about his mouth hardened, she stamped her foot angrily. ‘You’re very unkind, Edward! How dare you suppose that darling Justin would bring his light o’ love to my house? ’Tis the stupidest notion I ever heard! He wants me to chaperon the child until he can prevail upon Madam Field to come. What if she has been a boy? Pray what has that to say to anything?’
Marling smiled unwillingly.
‘You must admit that for Justin to adopt a girl –’
‘Edward, I truly believe that he means no ill! Léonie has been his page – Oh, now you are shocked again!’
‘Well, but –’
‘I won’t hear a word!’ Fanny put up her hands to his mouth. ‘Edward, you’ll not be angry, and hard?’ she coaxed. ‘There’s some mystery about Léonie, I feel sure, but – oh, my dear, you have only to look in her eyes! Now listen to me, dear Edward!’
He imprisoned her hands in his, drawing her to the couch.
‘Very well, my dear, I’ll listen.’
Fanny seated herself.
‘Dearest Edward! I knew you’d be kind! You see, Justin came here to-day with Léonie dressed as a boy. I was so enchanted! I never imagined that Justin was in England! Oh, and he has a fan! You cannot conceive anything so absurd, dear! Though indeed I believe they are become quite the most fashion –’
‘Ay, Fanny, but you were to explain about this girl – Léonie.’
‘I was explaining,’ she protested, pouting. ‘Well, he sent Léonie into another room – my dear, I think she positively worships him, poor child – and he begged me to keep her with me for a few days because he does not want there to be a shadow of scandal attached to her. And I am to clothe her, and oh, Edward, will
it not be entertaining? She has red hair, and black eyebrows, and I have given her my green silk. You cannot imagine how quite too tiresomely lovely she is, though perhaps she would look better in white.’
‘Never mind that, Fanny. Go on with your story.’
‘To be sure. It seems that Justin found her in Paris – only then he thought she was a boy – and she was being ill-treated by some tavern-keeper. So Justin bought her and made her his page. And he says that he has a fondness for her, and will make her his ward. And oh, Edward, I have just thought how wonderfully romantic ’twould be an he married her! But she is only a child, and dreadfully boyish. Only fancy! – she insisted on keeping her breeches! Now, Edward, say that you will be nice to her, and that I may keep her! Say it, Edward, say it!’
‘I suppose you must keep her,’ he said reluctantly. ‘I cannot turn her out. But I do not like it.’
Fanny embraced him.
‘It doesn’t signify in the least, Edward. You will fall in love with her, and I shall be jealous.’