Page 56 of Rivals at Ashmore Castle

‘She’s enjoying things while she can, which is very practical of her.’

‘Oh, is she—?’

‘Not as far as I know. But for a married woman it could happen at any time.’

‘I think she’s enjoying being with Giles somewhere he can’t dash off on business and leave her. She’s still in love with him. I believe you have to be in love to enjoy this sort of thing.’

‘Nonsense. I’m not in love, and I’m enjoying it.’

‘But you enjoy everything.’

He pressed her hand. ‘Aren’t you in love, then, my poor little sister? It seems a very unnatural state for a girl of nineteen.’

‘I’m twenty,’ she informed him robustly.

‘I beg your pardon. How time flies! But still not in love?’

‘I didn’t say that, exactly.’

‘Exactly? An ominous word. I hope you’re not throwing away your heart on some unworthy fellow.’

‘He’s definitely not unworthy,’ she said. ‘But he’s not here.’

‘Oh, look, they’re setting up the orchestra’s chairs – I think the dancing will begin soon. Was that a sigh?’

‘No-one to dance with,’ she said.

‘I’ll partner you, to prime the pump. Once the other young men see you going round with me, they’ll want to dance with you too. Men are like that.’

‘I’ll dance with you,’ Alice said. ‘I don’t mind if no-one else asks me.’ It wasn’t quite true, though.

Richard had spotted the Ravenscars and Miss Rowsham several times at a distance, but between chaperoning Alice and attending to Aunt Caroline’s and Grandmère’s comfort, he’d had no time to go and talk to them. Having danced with Alice and then one or two more females whom his aunt pushed him towards, he found himself unengaged at last and saw Miss Rowsham standing alone at the edge of the floor. He hurried over to her, before anyone else could intervene.

‘Would you care to dance, Miss Rowsham – if your previous exertions have not tired you?’ he asked, offering his hand.

‘Thank you,’ Miss Rowsham said, placing her hand in his with pleasing readiness. ‘It is not my feet that are tired. I am conversationally exhausted.’

‘Indeed?’ Richard said, guiding her onto the floor and into the throng. ‘I happened to be watching you going round with Robert Kemp, and I didn’t notice that you were talking a great deal.’

She smiled slightly at ‘happened to be watching’, and said, ‘It is not the quantity, Mr Tallant, but the quality. It leaves one racking one’s brain for a response.’

‘Hmm. I know Kemp a little, and I find it hard to imagine that he could have stumped you on any wicket.’

‘It’s not only Mr Kemp, of course,’ she said judiciously. ‘It happens every time. After a period of strenuous silence, and with a great effort, one’s partner says, “Oh, Miss Rowsham, don’t you find it gets awf’ly dark at night?”’ Richard began to laugh. ‘So I say, “Yes, Mr Kemp, yes, I do!” And, as it’s my job to encourage, I ask, “Why do you suppose that is, Mr Kemp?” And after serious thought, he says, “I suppose it is the absence of the sun, Miss Rowsham.” So I say, in admiring tones, “Why, how clever of you to think of that, Mr Kemp,” and honour is satisfied.’

‘You are a very wicked mimic, Miss Rowsham,’ Richard said appreciatively.

She sighed. ‘I was properly brought up, you know, though you mightn’t think it. My father said, “It’s pretty faces that win husbands, Addie, not cleverness.” And my mother said, “If a young lady has the misfortune to know anything at all, she should try to forget it.” Let me show you how proper I can be. Ask me my opinion about something serious.’

‘Very well. What do you think about the Education Bill, Miss Rowsham?’

She affected a childish voice. ‘Oh, Mr Tallant, I’m too stupid to understand politics! I leave that sort of thing to you gentlemen.’ She reverted to her normal voice. ‘You see, I do know how to behave.’

‘And yet you don’t behave with me. Why is that?’

She seemed to consider. ‘I think because you have already seen me at my worst. At that dreadful train crash I behaved shockingly. Reputation, poor thing, was turned out of doors in her shift that day and perished in the snow. Now I have nothing to lose.’

‘I’m rather glad of it,’ he said. ‘But I don’t recommend you try it on anyone else.’