The Guinea Stamp by Alice Chetwynd Ley Read Free Book Online Page A

sudden thought struck her.
    “But perhaps Guy will not come,” she said, doubtfully.
    “If he does not, it will be your own fault,” murmured Joanna, significantly, in her ear.
    Kitty raised her brows. “Why, whatever can you mean?” she whispered back.
    “Conversation after dinner should be general,” reproved Lady Feniton, sharply. “I feel quite sure that you two girls have had time enough in solitude today to enable you to unburden yourselves of all your little confidences! But why do you suppose, Catherine, that Mr. Dorlais”—she gave the words light emphasis, for she disapproved of Kitty’s use of her betrothed’s Christian name, and wondered that Letitia could allow it—“should not accept my invitation?”
    Kitty blushed. “He—it is possible, ma’am, that he may have another engagement,” she stuttered, nervously.
    Lady Feniton smiled acidly, “When you are so charmingly in looks, Catherine? I do not think it likely! I must say, Letitia, that though in general, I do not approve of those dreadful shorn locks, they do suit your daughter’s style. Not that I mean you to copy, Joanna,” she warned. “Yours is quite another kind of beauty, and Carver knows to an inch just what best becomes you.”
    Miss Feniton made no reply, but racked her brains feverishly to discover a way of diverting her grandmother’s attention long enough to enable her to have a private conversation with Kitty Lodge. If the worst came to the worst, she thought desperately, she would have to postpone it until they retired to their bedchambers for the night. Meanwhile, she could at least try to leave her friend alone with Mr. Dorlais for a space. If she braved her grandmother’s displeasure, and withdrew to the morning room, ostensibly to write letters, she knew she could rely upon Sir George Lodge, at any rate, to distract Lady Feniton’s attention from the engaged couple. Upon her grandfather, she could place no such reliance. Outside his library, he was a broken reed, drifting hither and thither at her ladyship’s whim. Which was probably why, reflected Joanna, he rarely left the library when he was in his own house.
    Her opportunity did not come, and in a little while, the gentlemen joined them. Guy Dorlais went at once to Kitty, placing a chair at her other side.
    “Now I am supplanted,” remarked Miss Feniton, with a smile. “I must tell you that you are about to have a signal honour paid you, Mr. Dorlais!”
    “What is that?” he asked, with a humorous flash of his dark eyes.
    “You are to be invited to make a stay at Shalbeare House,” said Joanna, solemnly. “Kitty fears, however, that you may have a previous engagement.”
    “What is all this, sweetheart?” he asked, trying to take Kitty’s hand.
    She snatched it hurriedly away, saying in muffled accents, “Take care! Lady Feniton is watching us!”
    “What do I care for—” he was beginning, when Lady Feniton cut into the conversation.
    “Sir Walter and myself are thinking of making up a small house party when we return home, Mr. Dorlais. May we hope to count you among our guests? Sir George and Lady Lodge are to come—and Catherine, of course. As to the other members, I am not yet quite decided, except for one gentleman Lord Cholcombe’s son. Are you at all acquainted with him, sir?”
    “You make me very happy, ma’am,” replied Guy Dorlais, with a bow. “I shall be delighted to accept. Yes, I have some little acquaintance with Cholcombe—I fancy that on one occasion, we took part together in some private theatricals at the house of a mutual friend, and I have run across him from time to time at the Exeter Assemblies. I understand that he has a house in Exeter, though he is more frequently in London.”
    “Oh, so you know this Mr. Cholcombe!” exclaimed Kitty, eagerly. “Pray tell us what he is like, Guy, do!”
    Dorlais hesitated. “Well, it’s not so simple, Kit, to describe a fellow one’s met so seldom. What do you wish to know