He tells me he shall not go to Scotland this year."
"I will ask Miss Byrton and Lady Sheldon," Philippa had promised.
"Only two ladies!" the duke had laughed. "He will want some one to smoke
his cigar with."
"I will trust to some happy inspiration at the time, then," she had
replied; and they had not mentioned the matter again.
Early in August Lord Arleigh wrote that if it were convenient he should
prefer paying his promised visit at once. He concluded his letter by
saying:
"My dear Philippa, your kind, good husband has said something to me
about meeting a pleasant party. I should so much prefer one of my old
style visits--no parties, no ceremonies. I want to see you and Verdun
Royal, not a crowd of strange faces. Lady Peters is _chaperon_, if you
have any lingering doubt about the 'proprieties.'"
So it was agreed that he should come alone, and later on, if the duchess
cared to invite more friends, she could do so.
The fact was that Lord Arleigh wanted time for his wooing. He had found
that he could not live without Madaline. He had thought most carefully
about everything, and had decided on asking her to be his wife.
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