Part 19 (2/2)
”Yes . . . or of the Earl of Ware.”
”Or of all the others who hang about her,” she added.
De Lacy looked down at her with an amused smile.
”Methinks Ware is enough,” he said, with calm a.s.sertion.
She tossed her head in quick defiance. ”Your penetration, Sir Aymer, is extraordinary--when it concerns others,” she retorted.
”And when it concerns myself?”
She answered with a shrug.
He went over and leaned on the cas.e.m.e.nt beside her.
”Just how stupid am I?” he asked.
She turned and measured him with slow eyes. ”I am not sure it is stupidity,” she remarked; ”some might call it modesty.”
He laughed. ”And which does the Lady Mary Percy call it?”
”I can tell you better a year hence.”
”Why so long a wait?”
”You will then have won or lost the Countess.”
He shook his head dubiously.
”How will that decide the matter?” he asked.
She smiled. ”Because only stupidity can lose.”
He looked at her curiously and in silence, a quicker beat at his pulse and she read his thoughts.
”Oh, I am betraying no confidences,” she said. ”Your lady gives none--save possibly to the d.u.c.h.ess. But I have been of the Household with Beatrix for two years and------”
”And . . . what?” he inflected.
”You can guess the rest--if you are not stupid,” she said, turning away.
But he stayed her. ”My barge is at the landing. Shall we follow . . .
the others?” he suggested.
She hesitated--then, catching up a cloak and scarf that lay on a couch, she nodded acquiescence.
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