Page 117 of The Fortunes of Ashmore Castle

‘Oh, Lord! It was meant as one. I’m sure girls are naturally just as capable of conversing, only they get told not to, don’t they? They’re made to simper and languish instead. Girls’ mamas all seem to think that men prefer empty heads and won’t propose if there’s any danger of thought going on under the golden tresses.’

‘Was there a glance at my sister accompanying that obliging observation?’

He laughed. ‘I say, you are jolly! And a very decent sort. I confess I was thinking of our esteemed elder siblings, but in my defence, just look at ’em! Both being fascinating, following the guidebook line by line, the “Mrs Beeton’s” of courtship. I’m positive you and I are enjoying ourselves more. I know I am.’

Alice looked across at the other couple, and frowned. ‘Do you think she’s flirting?’

‘I wouldn’t go that far,’ he said, ‘but there is definitely hard work going on on both sides. Do you disapprove of flirting?’

‘I don’t really have an opinion one way or the other, except that Rachel’s supposed to be engaged.’

‘Supposed to be?’

Alice found herself explaining, briefly, the circumstances. ‘Is your brother looking for a wife?’

‘Yes, a rich one,’ said Bentham.

‘Well, Rachel should be safe, then. She hasn’t any dowry.’

‘I’m sorry to hear it,’ Bentham said kindly. ‘But she is so very pretty, I’m not surprised this fellow Angus has been eager to secure her.’

‘Yes. It’s lucky, really, that I don’t want to get married, because I haven’t any money either, and I haven’t Rachel’s looks.’

‘I’m afraid you are fishing for compliments, ma’am, which your governess ought to have told you is a very bad habit,’ he said, with mock sternness.

‘I didn’t have a governess. My vices are all self-taught,’ said Alice.

‘You must be aware that you are very pretty too,’ he said lightly. ‘Or, rather, I wouldn’t say pretty, which is a commonplace word, while your beauty is quite uncommon.’

Alice looked awkward, and blushed slightly. ‘I didn’t mean—’

‘Ah, but I did,’ he said quickly. ‘An uncommon beauty, if anyone was to ask me.’

‘I’m sure no-one will,’ Alice said, and hurried on, changing the subject lest he think she was fishing again. ‘Do you make much stay with the Pfaffenheims?’

‘Alas, no, we are leaving tomorrow. It was really only an overnight stay to break the journey. More’s the pity.’

Alice agreed – it had crossed her mind to see if Mr Farocean could be invited to go riding the next day.

‘The moment must satisfy us, I’m afraid,’ he went on. ‘“Present mirth hath present laughter; what’s to come is still unsure”.’

Alice could supply the next line for herself: Then come kiss me, Sweet-and-twenty. She blushed. He was watching her face, and seemed to enjoy it.

‘But perhaps we shall meet again in England,’ he said. ‘Do you make much stay in Usingen, Lady Alice?’

‘I hardly know,’ she said. ‘It depends on my mother. But I hope not. I want to be back in London when the new term starts.’

‘New term? You intrigue me, madam. Surely you cannot still be at school.’

So she told him about her studies, and the topic lasted to the end of the dance. When the music ended he bowed, and said, ‘At least now I know how to find you when next we’re in London. Thank you for the dance, bella signorina. I’m enjoying myself much more than I had any expectation of.’

Rachel hurried to join her as soon as her partner released her, and said, very flushed, ‘What a charming boy Mr Farocean is! You danced with his brother, didn’t you? What a pity they’re going away tomorrow. Everyone else in the neighbourhood is so old and dull. I wonder if Aunt Caroline knows Sir Jocelyn.’

‘Aunt Caroline knows everybody, but that’s not the same as receiving them,’ Alice said. ‘I don’t think you ought to have flirted when you’re an engaged woman.’

‘I wasn’t flirting, I was being civil,’ Rachel said automatically. ‘But, oh dear, we shall be so dull tomorrow!’

But when tomorrow came, it brought news that Aunt Vicky and Uncle Bobo would be with them by dinner time, and everything grew cheerful again.