time?”
“All work and no play, et cetera,” he answered, taking up his customary seat beside her on the sofa before the grate.
“You have come to play with me, have you? How nice. What will it be: piquet, jackstraws?”
“Dutch uncle,” he replied with a sapient look. “I am going to give you some unwelcome information with regard to your new boy.”
“Meaning?” she asked, coming to sharp attention.
“I don’t believe the fellow is playing straight with you, Maddie.”
“I presume you have some basis for this extraordinary statement?”
“Yes, that old whore, Rumor, is my basis. Though shaky, it is one a lady seldom disregards. Rumor has it the boy is making inquiries with regard to employment within the ranks of the Whigs. He came to London with a letter in his pocket from his father, an ardent Whig, introducing him to Neville and some of the lesser lights amongst us. Of course he is not quite top draw socially, and could hardly be expected to know the top dogs.”
“Kind of you to describe my cousin as ‘not quite top drawer,’ Eskott. It is news to me if sons follow the politics of their fathers. It is the exception rather than the rule when they do.”
“To be sure, I never took Aldred for an exceptional man in any way. Extremely common, I should say.”
“You are at pains never to take him for a man at all, but always to describe him as a boy.”
“Your boy is my customary term.”
“Where did you hear this rumor? Have you spoken to Neville?”
“No, it would not be a rumor if I had. I confess I have the story second or third hand.”
“What does rumor decree he has done about this letter? Has he been actively looking for a spot in your party?”
“He presented the letter to Neville. Neville, out of regard for his father, offered him the sort of minor post his lack of experience and acumen entitled him to. Aldred said neither yes nor no, but indicated he would think about it. For the past ten days he has been deeply cogitating the matter, while angling to see whether you haven’t something better to offer. A plain old opportunist. He did not mention the matter to you, I take it?”
“Nothing. He knew I would dislike it.”
“I should think you would like the secrecy even less.”
“I do dislike it. I shall ask him about it.”
“Be sure to tell him where you heard the rumor.”
“You are at great pains to see he dislikes you!”
“I don’t want the unpleasant chore of telling him I don’t have a soft berth for him.”
“I thought such a chore would be very much to your liking. Not that you’re likely to have the pleasure of refusing him. Tilsit has just recently made him an excellent offer.”
“Has he indeed? My worries were in vain then. I am happy for you. What is the position to be?”
“It is not quite decided yet. He has to call on Tilsit to arrange the details.”
“It is his intention to compare the offer to Neville’s. You may lose him yet.”
“He will accept some offer from Tilsit. The only uncertainty is whether he will become an M.P. through the courtesy of a seat belonging to Tilsit or act as secretary for him.”
“There is nothing to prevent his doing both.”
“I know that,” she said angrily, though her anger was truly directed at her cousin for his lack of frankness with her.
“You don’t have to snap my nose off!”
“I feel the need to snap off someone’s. You happen to be here.”
“It does bother you then, his duplicity?”
“It is not duplicity, only a lack of openness. Henry will have some explanation.”
“I expect the boy is well versed in explaining away a lack of openness.”
“The boy is twenty-four years old, only one year younger than myself.”
“Strange, is it not? Twenty-four is young for a man, while twenty-five is old for a woman.”
“Very strange indeed. One of the wonders of the physical world. Stranger yet when you take into consideration that women generally outlive their husbands by a decade
“All work and no play, et cetera,” he answered, taking up his customary seat beside her on the sofa before the grate.
“You have come to play with me, have you? How nice. What will it be: piquet, jackstraws?”
“Dutch uncle,” he replied with a sapient look. “I am going to give you some unwelcome information with regard to your new boy.”
“Meaning?” she asked, coming to sharp attention.
“I don’t believe the fellow is playing straight with you, Maddie.”
“I presume you have some basis for this extraordinary statement?”
“Yes, that old whore, Rumor, is my basis. Though shaky, it is one a lady seldom disregards. Rumor has it the boy is making inquiries with regard to employment within the ranks of the Whigs. He came to London with a letter in his pocket from his father, an ardent Whig, introducing him to Neville and some of the lesser lights amongst us. Of course he is not quite top draw socially, and could hardly be expected to know the top dogs.”
“Kind of you to describe my cousin as ‘not quite top drawer,’ Eskott. It is news to me if sons follow the politics of their fathers. It is the exception rather than the rule when they do.”
“To be sure, I never took Aldred for an exceptional man in any way. Extremely common, I should say.”
“You are at pains never to take him for a man at all, but always to describe him as a boy.”
“Your boy is my customary term.”
“Where did you hear this rumor? Have you spoken to Neville?”
“No, it would not be a rumor if I had. I confess I have the story second or third hand.”
“What does rumor decree he has done about this letter? Has he been actively looking for a spot in your party?”
“He presented the letter to Neville. Neville, out of regard for his father, offered him the sort of minor post his lack of experience and acumen entitled him to. Aldred said neither yes nor no, but indicated he would think about it. For the past ten days he has been deeply cogitating the matter, while angling to see whether you haven’t something better to offer. A plain old opportunist. He did not mention the matter to you, I take it?”
“Nothing. He knew I would dislike it.”
“I should think you would like the secrecy even less.”
“I do dislike it. I shall ask him about it.”
“Be sure to tell him where you heard the rumor.”
“You are at great pains to see he dislikes you!”
“I don’t want the unpleasant chore of telling him I don’t have a soft berth for him.”
“I thought such a chore would be very much to your liking. Not that you’re likely to have the pleasure of refusing him. Tilsit has just recently made him an excellent offer.”
“Has he indeed? My worries were in vain then. I am happy for you. What is the position to be?”
“It is not quite decided yet. He has to call on Tilsit to arrange the details.”
“It is his intention to compare the offer to Neville’s. You may lose him yet.”
“He will accept some offer from Tilsit. The only uncertainty is whether he will become an M.P. through the courtesy of a seat belonging to Tilsit or act as secretary for him.”
“There is nothing to prevent his doing both.”
“I know that,” she said angrily, though her anger was truly directed at her cousin for his lack of frankness with her.
“You don’t have to snap my nose off!”
“I feel the need to snap off someone’s. You happen to be here.”
“It does bother you then, his duplicity?”
“It is not duplicity, only a lack of openness. Henry will have some explanation.”
“I expect the boy is well versed in explaining away a lack of openness.”
“The boy is twenty-four years old, only one year younger than myself.”
“Strange, is it not? Twenty-four is young for a man, while twenty-five is old for a woman.”
“Very strange indeed. One of the wonders of the physical world. Stranger yet when you take into consideration that women generally outlive their husbands by a decade
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