This was said with a glowing look. Henrietta could only hope that her parent’s sunny mood would outlast Cherry’s visit.

It was three days before Sir Charles Silverdale was allowed to leave his bedchamber, and it was plain to his mother and his sister that he was much more shaken by his accident than he would admit. He insisted on coming downstairs but when, leaning heavily on his valet, he reached the library he was only too glad to stretch himself out on the sofa, and even to drink the cordial his mama pressed upon him. He was a handsome youth, but his features were too often marred by his expression, which was inclined to be petulant, and even, when he could not have his own way, or anything went amiss, sullen. In temperament, as in looks, he was very like his mother; but owing to the circumstance of his having been bereft of a father at an early age, and grossly indulged by his doting mama, all the faults which he had inherited from her were exaggerated. He had a good deal of charm; an ease of manner which made him generally an acceptable guest; and a reckless daring which won him the admiration of a number of like-minded young gentlemen. His servants liked him, for although he was quite as exacting as his mother, and very much more selfish, he had inherited her genius for making his most outrageous demands appear to be the merest requests; and because he always thanked them, with the sweetest of smiles, expressed contrition for any outburst of temper, and gave them leave of absence whenever he foresaw no need of their services, he was thought to be very goodnatured. His harebrained exploits were regarded by them with indulgence, as being the natural conduct to be expected of any high-spirited young gentleman; and his carelessness was excused on the score of his youth. Only his sister, whose natural fondness for him did not prevent her from recognizing his faults, had said once, when exasperated by some example of churlishness, that since he seemed to have a number of friends it was to be supposed that he reserved his bad temper for his family, conducting himself with propriety everywhere that lay beyond the bounds of his home; and since this caustic comment had drawn down upon her the instant wrath and long-lasting reproaches of her mother, she had never repeated the offence.

She had looked forward to her brother’s emergence from his sickroom with misgiving, knowing his susceptibility, and well-aware that the smallest tendency on his part to flirt with Cherry would transform Lady Silverdale, in the twinkling of a bedpost, from a benevolent protectress into an inveterate enemy. But she discovered that Desford had been right: the dashing Mrs Cumbertrees might be a thing of the past, but Sir Charles’s taste still ran to ladies of opulent charms and vast experience. He had no interest in ingénues, and his only comment, on meeting Cherry, must have allayed any alarm felt by his anxious parent. In fact, she felt none, and quite agreed with him when he said: “What a snippety thing she is, Mama! A regular go-by-the-ground! I wonder Des should have troubled himself with her.”

Mr Cary Nethercott wondered too, but, being a simple, straightforward man, he accepted what was indeed the true explanation without question, and without difficulty. “One can only honour his lordship for his conduct in such a difficult situation,” he said, adding with a faint smile: “And hope that one would have had the strength of mind to have behaved in the same way, had one been in his place!”

“I expect you would have!” Henrietta returned, smiling. “It was a very sad case, you know—sadder than the poor child revealed to Desford, I am afraid. Only a monster could have left her to her fate!”

He agreed, but said gravely: “But what is to become of her? So young, and so friendless—for you cannot continue to be responsible for her—or, I don’t doubt, Lord Desford expect it of you.”

“No, of course he doesn’t. He has merely left her at Inglehurst while he discovers her grandfather’s whereabouts. Though whether Lord Nettlecombe will be willing to receive her into his household I can’t but think extremely doubtful.”

“I am not acquainted with his lordship—except by reputation.”

“Nor am I, but if only half the tales told of him are true he must be the most disagreeable, clutchfisted old man imaginable! I can but hope that he may be moved by Cherry’s plight—even take a fancy to her, which wouldn’t be wonderful, for there is something very attaching about her, and she has the sweetest of dispositions.”

“She is certainly a very taking little thing,” he concurred. “One doesn’t like to think of her becoming a slave to such a purse-leech as Lord Nettlecombe is said to be.” He paused, frowning, and tapping his finger on the table. “What does she mean to do if Nettlecombe doesn’t acknowledge her?” he asked abruptly. “Has she considered that possibility?”

“Oh, yes I She has the intention—the very firm intention!—of seeking a post in some genteel household.”

His frown deepened. “What kind of a post? As governess? She must be too young to fill such a position!”

“Not only too young, but quite unqualified for it,” said Henrietta. “She thinks she could instruct children just out of the nursery, but I hope I may have convinced her that such a situation would be no improvement on the conditions she endured in her aunt’s establishment. The other notion she has is to seek employment with an elderly invalid. She says—and I believe her!—that although she is not bookish she does know how to deal with what she calls cantankersome old ladies. Well, my own mama may not be old, and God forbid I should call her cantankersome, but it must be owned that—that she has odd humours! I daresay you know what I mean?” He bowed, looking gravely at her. “Yes. Well, I can only say that I have never known anyone who knew better how to keep her pleased and happy!”

“Other than yourself?” he suggested.

“Oh, good God, no!” she said, laughing. “I’m no hand at it, I promise you! I haven’t enough patience! But Cherry has. And she has more sympathy than I fear I shall ever have with hypochondriacs! Does that shock you? Forget I said it!”

He shook his head. “Nothing you did me the honour to confide to me could shock me,” he said simply. “What shocks me is knowing that you are aware of the imaginary nature of Lady Silverdale’s aches and ills. Forgive me if I am expressing myself badly! I’m not ready of tongue, and find it hard to put my thoughts into words! But it has always seemed to me that you believed her to be in failing health, in which case your devotion to her was a natural thing, making it an impertinence for anyone to pity you, or—or to presume to think of rescuing you!”

He stopped, reddening, as he perceived in her expressive eyes as much amusement as surprise. When she spoke, her words acted on him like a douche of cold water, for she said, on a quiver of laughter: “Well, so I would suppose, sir! Good God, is it possible that you think me an object for pity, or that I need to be rescued? What a very odd notion you must have of me—and, indeed, of my poor mama! She may sometimes be tiresome, but I assure you she is as much attached to me as I am to her. I am perfectly happy, you know!”

“Forgive me!” he muttered. “I said too much!”

“Why, of course!” she said, smiling at him. “The truth is that you are too romantical, my friend, and should have lived when gentlemen of your cut used to ride out to rescue some damsel in distress. What a vast number of them there seem to have been, by the way! While as for the dragons and giants and ogres who held the damsels in thrall, when you consider how many of them were slain by the rescuing knights, you must be forced to the conclusion that the country was positively infested with them!”

He could not help laughing, but he shook his head, saying: “You are always so humoursome, Miss Hetta, that one can’t but be diverted by your jokes. Are you never serious?”

“Well, not for very long at a time!” she replied. “I fear I am like Beatrice, and was born to speak all mirth and no matter! But come, we were discussing little Cherry’s situation, not mine! She really is a damsel in distress!”

“Hers is indeed a hard case,” he said heavily.

“Yes, but I have every hope that it won’t be long before she receives an offer!”

“From Lord Desford?” he interrupted, watching her face closely.

“From Desford?” she exclaimed involuntarily. “Good God, no! At least, I most sincerely hope not! It would never do!”

“Why do you say that? If he has fallen in love with her—”

“My dear sir, I daresay Desford must be the last man to forget what he owes to his name, and his family! What in the world do you imagine Lord Wroxton would say to such a match?”

“Do you mean to say that Lord Desford will marry to oblige his father?” he demanded.

“No, but I am very sure he won’t marry to disoblige him!” she said. “When I said that I hoped it wouldn’t be long before she received an offer I meant that if we can but introduce her into some household where she will be expected to help to entertain the visitors I have little doubt that she will receive an offer—perhaps several offers!—from perfectly respectable suitors, to whom her father’s reputation won’t signify a button.”

“You must permit me to say, Miss Hetta, that her father’s reputation ought not to signify to any man who loved her!”

“Yes, that is all very well,” she said impatiently, “but you cannot expect a Carrington to ally himself to a Steane! It isn’t even as if they were of the true nobility! Lord Nettlecombe is only the second baron, you know, and his father, from all I have heard, was a very rough diamond.”

“A man need not be contemptible because he was a rough diamond.”