‘Y-es.’
‘Eh bien, then, as you’d say yourself ! Fiend seize it, here’s my cousin!’
Madam Field came down the stairs, peering out of her short-sighted eyes.
‘Well, to be sure! And is it indeed you, Rupert?’ she exclaimed.
Rupert went forward to meet her.
‘Ay, cousin, it’s myself. I hope I see you in your customary good health?’
‘Save for a trifling touch of the gout. Léonie! You here?’
‘I presented myself, cousin. I believe I am something in the nature of an uncle to her.’
‘An uncle? Oh no, Rupert, surely not!’
‘I will not have you for an uncle,’ said Léonie with her nose in the air. ‘You are not enough respectable.’
‘My love!’
Rupert burst out laughing.
‘Faith, I’ll none of you for a niece, child. You are too saucy.’
‘Oh no, Rupert!’ Madam assured him. ‘Indeed, she is very good!’ She looked at him doubtfully. ‘But, Rupert, do you think you should be here?’
‘Turning me from mine own roof, cousin?’
‘I protest, I did not mean –’
‘I am come to make the acquaintance of my brother’s ward, cousin, as is fitting.’ His voice was convincing. Madam’s brow cleared.
‘If you say so, Rupert – pray where are you staying?’
‘At Merivale, cousin, by night, but here, an it please you, by day.’
‘Does – does Justin know?’ ventured Madam.
‘Do you suggest that Alastair would object to my presence, cousin?’ demanded Rupert in righteous indignation.
‘Oh no, indeed! You misunderstand me! I make no doubt ’tis monstrous dull for Léonie to have only me to bear her company. Perhaps you will sometimes ride out with her? The child will leave her groom at home, which is vastly improper, as I have told her many times.’
‘I’ll ride with her all day!’ promised Rupert jovially. ‘That is if she will have me.’
‘I should like it, I think,’ said Léonie. ‘I have never met anyone tout comme vous.’
‘If it comes to that,’ said Rupert, ‘I’ve never met a girl like you.’
Madam Field sighed, and shook her head.
‘I fear she will never become quite as I should wish,’ she said sadly.
‘She’ll be the rage of town,’ Rupert prophesied. ‘Will you walk with me to the stables, Léonie?’
‘I will get a cloak,’ she nodded, and ran lightly upstairs.
When she returned Madam Field had delivered a short lecture to Rupert, and had extracted a promise from him that he would behave with suitable decorum towards Léonie.