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“Ah, you are Marcus’s boy,” she said “What a naughty felloas But you htiness for another time, My Lord I have not seento do”

She swept the bewildered Delilah fro Lord Berne to find his oay out

Chapter Sixteen

“Where is your Papa?” Mrs Deshter down the hallway towards the stairs “And ere you doing unattended with that wicked boy?” Without waiting for an answer, she went on, “He is as had come to life, but I must tell you, when they do so, their sole aim appears to be—”

There was a small commotion in the hall behind them, and the two ladies stopped and turned

“Cara,” cried Mr Des close behind

The Devil took his wife’s hands and pressed them to his lips

“My dear,” she said co well”

“Better now, I areeable surprise I had not expected you so soon”

“I came by mail coach,” said Mrs Desmond She turned her attention to her husband’s co warmly

Delilah, baffled, looked fro here? What did she know of Mr Langdon? And why ht be out rescuing the rasp of Mr Atkins

“Maan

Hercommands to the butler

“Aunt Mimsy is overset by the excitement,” she explained when Bantwell had exited “I have sent her to her room to rest, but someone must see about dinner You will join us, sir?” she asked Mr Langdon

He pleaded a previous engagement

“Then you will have a glass of wine at least” Angelica led the group to the parlour

“Ma here?” Delilah demanded as soon as the door was closed “Aunt Millicent must be in paroxysms”

“If this is how you normally behave before co paroxysnore hted she was to see ”

Delilah sat, fu

The servant entered ine Accepting his glass, Mr Langdon took up a neutral position by the fireplace

“You an reproachfully

“I ht,” was the unperturbed response, “but there has been no proper opportunity She is rarely at home when I am, and at those infrequent intervals Millicent is inevitably about Since she was certain to object, silence seemed the wisest course Besides, as I mentioned, we had not looked to see you so soon”

Miss Desdon He knehatever it was that had not been explained to her, else her parents would not have spoken so before him

Mr Langdon coloured under the glare and said apologetically, “I beg your pardon, Miss Desmond, but I hesitated to discuss the matter with you before I felt more confident my proposal orkable”

“What proposal?” Delilah cried “Why do you have all these secrets and tell ?”