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ready to leave for Mobley tomorrow after tonight's farewell party? We met Lady Grainger and Miss
Grainger in the park, did we not, Francis? They are extremely gratified to have been invited to Mobley. I
have written to Papa to tell him "
Cora's monologues could sometimes continue for a considerable length of time. Edgar had cut her off.
"Lady Stapleton and Mrs. Cross will be coming, too," he had told her and Francis. Francis's eyebrows
had gone up.
"Are they?" Cora had said. "Oh. How splendid. We will be a merry house party. Papa will "
"I will be marrying Lady Stapleton at Mobley before Christmas," Edgar had announced.
For once Cora had been speechless  and inelegantly open-mouthed. Lord Francis's eyebrows had
remained elevated.
There had been no point in mincing matters. It was rather too late for that. "She is two months with child,"
he had said. "With my child, that is. We will be marrying."
Francis had shaken his hand and congratulated him and said all that was proper. Cora had been first
speechless and then garrulous. By the time Edgar escaped the house, she had talked herself into believing
that she, that he, that Francis, that everyone concerned and unconcerned must be blissfully happy with
the betrothal. Lady Stapleton wouldbejust the bride for Edgar, Cora had declared. Lady Stapleton
would not allow herself to be swept along by the power of his character, and he would be the happier for
it. Cora had never been so pleased by anything in her life, and Papa would be deliriously happy. Francis
was called upon to corroborate these chuckle-headed notions.
"I believe it might well turn into a good match, my love," he had said less effusively than she, but with
apparent sincerity. "I cannot imagine Edgar being satisfied with anything less. And the lady certainly has
character  and beauty."
But of course Cora had issued the reminder Edgar had not needed before he made his escape.
"Oh, Edgar!" Her eyes had grown as wide as saucers and her hand had flown to her mouth and collided
with it with a painful-sounding slap. "Whatever are you going to do about Fanny Grainger? You have all
butoffered for her. And she is coming toMobley ."
Edgar had no idea what he was going to do about Fanny Grainger, apart from the fact that he was not
going to marry her. He had not offered for her, but he had come uncomfortably close. And last evening
he had even taken the all-but-final step of inviting her and her parents to spend Christmas at Mobley.
Everyone of course took for granted that he had invited her there for only one reason.
He liked the girl, even though he had not wished to marry her. The last thing he wanted to do was to
leave her publicly humiliated. But it seemed that that was what he was fated to do. Unless&
It was purely by chance  entirely, amazingly coincidental  that as he was walking alongOxford Streethe
caught a glimpse of the young man she had met on almost the exact same spot a few weeks ago when
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Edgar had come upon them. Jack Sperling was hurrying along, his head down, clearly intent on getting
where he was going in as little time as possible. One could understand why. The wind cut down the street
rather like a knife.
Edgar stepped to one side to impede his progress. Sperling looked up, startled. "I do beg your pardon,"
he said before frowning and looking distinctly unfriendly. "Oh, you," he added.
"Good afternoon." Edgar touched the brim of his beaver hat and did what it was not in his nature to do 
he acted on the spur of the moment. "Mr. Sperling, is it not?"
"I am in a hurry," the young man said ungraciously.
"I wonder if I could persuade you not to be?" Edgar said.
Unfriendliness turned to open hostility. "Oh, you need not fear that your territory is going to be poached
upon," he said. "She has sent me a letter this morning and has explained that it will be the last. She will not
see me again, andI will not see her. We both have some sense of honor. Sir," he added, making the word
sound like an insult.
"I really must persuade you not to be in a hurry," Edgar said. "I need to talk to you."
"I have nothing to say to you," Jack Sperling said. "Except this. If you once mistreat her and if I ever hear
of it, then you had better learn to watch your back." His voice shook.
"It is dashed cold out here," Edgar said, shivering. "That coffee shop is bound to be a great deal warmer.
I believe they serve good coffee. Let us go and have some."
"You may drop dead, sir," the young man said.
"I do hope not," Edgar said. "Let me say this. I am going to be married within the next week or so  but
not to Miss Grainger. However, she is to be a guest at my father's home and I feel a certain sense of
responsibility for her happiness, since I seem to have been at least partly responsible for her unhappiness.
Perhaps you and I could discuss the matter in civil fashion together?"
Jack Sperling stared at him for a few moments, deep suspicion in his face. Then he turned abruptly and
strode in the direction of the coffee shop. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]