"Stop it!" came a voice from the doorway. They all looked round to find Alicia standing there, white-faced and furious.

Despite her obvious distress, she'd taken the trouble to don Kitty's becoming robe and to dress her hair. "How dare you all discuss me in this vulgar way?"

"I'm sorry, my love," Lady Edith said contritely. "I was only trying to help."

"Help?" the doctor said with heavy sarcasm. "That sort of help is like a crutch for a leg in which the break has already healed."

"And what, pray," demanded Alicia, "do you mean by that?"

"I mean, miss, that you should be helping yourself, not leaning on your mother."

"I do not lean on my mother!" Alicia said.

"There's nothing wrong with a young, unmarried woman seeking the support of her mother," Lady Edith p.r.o.nounced at the same time.

"What's all the shouting about?" said a new voice from the doorway. This time it was Toby. He strolled into the room and made for the buffet. "Have you all lost your wits?" he asked without real concern. But at that moment he noticed Emily. "Kitty! What on earth-? What are you doing out of bed?"

Three voices answered at once. "Your mother dragged her down," the doctor muttered.

"I needed her a.s.sistance," Lady Edith said.

"I came to help Alicia," Emily said quietly.

"You all have lost your wits!" Toby snarled furiously. "Have you forgotten that this poor girl was tossed from her horse only yesterday?" He strode across the room and lifted Emily up in his arms. "You, my love, are going back to bed right now!"

"Toby!" Emily gasped. "Put me down!"

"You needn't baby the girl, Wishart," the doctor said. "She's not made of gla.s.s."

"Did he call her his love?" Alicia asked her mother, momentarily distracted from her own cares by her delight at Toby's words.

"How can you worry about that now?" her ladyship asked querulously. "You have other things to think about."

"There! You see?" Dr. Randolph, turning to Alicia, pointed an accusing finger at her mother. "The moment you have a thought for someone else, she brings your attention back to your own selfish concerns."

"My daughter doesn't have a selfish bone in her body!" Lady Edith cried.

"I know she doesn't. It's you who are making her so absorbed in herself," the doctor accused.

"Hugh Randolph!" Alicia cried. "How can you speak in that horrid way to my mother?"

Lady Alicia drew forth her handkerchief. "He calls me selfish, when it is he who hasn't an iota of sympathy for you, Alicia."

"I don't need sympathy for her," Dr. Randolph shouted, quite at the end of his patience. "I love her."

"Do you indeed?" came a new voice. This time it was Lord Edgerton in the doorway. Having spent a sleepless night tossing in hopeless longing for a little minx he had no right to love, he'd gone out to clear his head by riding his horse through the soft, new-fallen snow. Now, feeling a great deal refreshed by the ride, he stamped the snow from his boots as he surveyed the noisy a.s.semblage in the breakfast room with a great deal more amus.e.m.e.nt than he could have summoned an hour ago. His eyes flitted from Toby (standing at his right with the false Miss Jessup in his arms), to his mother (who was trying with her usual lack of success to wrap her shawl about her shoulders, while Dr. Randolph and his sister gaped at each other over her head). "This is the first I've heard of any love matters," he remarked calmly. "As head of the house, shouldn't I have been the first to know?"

"I was going to tell you, Edgerton," the doctor said uncomfortably, "but your sister and I have reached a bit of an impa.s.se here."

"More than a bit, I should say," Alicia muttered tearfully. "He believes me to be too delicate to be a doctor's wife."

"Perhaps she is too delicate," Lady Edith said sullenly. She was beginning to wish that Dr. Randolph would cry off. It had occurred to her only a moment ago that she might not enjoy having a son-in-law who disliked her.

"Do you think you're too delicate, Alicia?" Edgerton inquired interestedly.

"I don't know. I suppose it's up to Hugh to decide that. He is my doctor, after all."

"Well, Randolph? What is your medical opinion?" Edgerton asked.

"You know my medical opinion. Your sister is perfectly healthy. But she must be made to believe that herself. She's had too many years listening to her ladyship tell her how delicate she-"

"Ahem!" This latest interruption was made by Naismith, who had been standing in the doorway for the past few seconds trying to get his lordship's attention.

"Not now Naismith," his lordship said, much too fascinated with the goings-on in front of him to brook any distraction. "Are you suggesting, Randolph, that if she were married and living under less indulgent influences, she might more easily blossom into robust health?"

"It is certainly a possibility," Dr. Randolph said, eyeing Alicia with hopeful speculation.

"That's a manly, decisive response for you," Toby remarked disdainfully.

Lord Edgerton turned his attention to his brother. "I suppose you have a manly, decisive response to the question of why I find you standing in the center of your mother's breakfast room with an innocent young lady in your arms."

"As a matter of fact, I do," Toby retorted promptly. "I-"

"Put me down, Toby, please!" Emily begged in embarra.s.sment.

"Ahem!" Naismith was even louder this time. "I told you not now," his lordship said, waving him off.

"Well, Toby, I'm waiting."

"I'm about to convey this innocent young lady to her bed, where she should have been kept in the first place," he said cheerfully.

"There's no need to carry me, you clunch," Emily whispered. "I can walk. Put me down!"

"Hush," he whispered back. "I'll put you down on your bed and nowhere else."

"But my lord," Naismith said valiantly, "there are-" But his lordship wasn't listening. He was staring at his brother under knit brows.

"What right have you to carry her about without her leave?" he asked his brother.

"I have every right. Since I intend to marry Miss Jessup, I intend to take proper care of her."

Edgerton, taken aback, frowned. "You intend to marry that Miss Jessup?"

"What other Miss Jessup is there?" Toby riposted with a grin.

"Oh, Toby; I told you it isn't possible," Emily said in consternation.

"Speaking of Miss Jessup," Naismith said firmly, "her parents are here."

"What?" said Edgerton, wheeling about.

"What?" Emily squealed.

"What?" Toby chortled loudly.

"Did you say that Miss Jessup's parents are here now?" Lord Edgerton asked.

Naismith nodded, unable to hide a slight air of smug satisfaction at the sensation he'd caused. "Yes, my lord. That's what I've been trying to tell you. Lord and Lady Birkinshaw have arrived and are asking to see their daughter. They are waiting in the rotunda."

"Well, my gracious, what's all the fuss about, Naismith?" Lady Edith asked irritably.

"Tell them to come in."

"Oh, no!" Emily moaned as Naismith bowed himself out.

"Frightened, are you?" Toby teased. "I know. Your father is a miser and your mother is a dwarf, so you think I'll cry off."

"Dash it all, Toby," Emily hissed urgently, "stop clowning and let me down!"

"Really, Toby, you are being odious," his sister remarked. "Why don't you do as the girl wishes and set her down?" "Not on your life," Toby grinned, lifting Emily higher on his chest. "I want her parents to see how delightfully we are getting on."

Edgerton knew he should intervene. Matters were coming to a pretty pa.s.s, and he was the only one who could sort them out. But something held him back. He wanted the fun of seeing the whole charade played out. Confound you, Greg Wishart, he scolded himself, you're as bad as your brother. But while he struggled with his conscience, Lady Birkinshaw bustled in, with the red-faced, weary Lord Birkinshaw right behind. It was too late now. With his eyes alight with amus.e.m.e.nt, Lord Edgerton stepped back behind the others to observe the unfolding of Kitty Jessup's little plot. It was his mother who did the honors. "Ah, Lady Birkinshaw, how do you do?" she said with forced cheer, rising in queenly majesty from her chair and putting out her hand. "What a lovely surprise! We weren't expecting you for several days."

"How do you do, ma'am?" Lady Birkinshaw responded coolly. "We are sorry to break into what is obviously an intimate little revel, but I a.s.sure you we do not intend to stay.

We've only come to pack up our little girl and convey her home."

"Convey her home?" Toby echoed in chagrin. "But ... why?"

Lady Birkinshaw turned and looked him over icily. "And what business is it of yours, pray?" she asked. Toby glanced down at the girl in his arms for a puzzled instant and then back at Lady Birkinshaw. "I should think you'd have guessed, ma'am. I'm Toby."

Lady Birkinshaw stiffened. "Toby? Toby Wishart?"

"At your service, ma'am."

She stared at him a moment in disbelief and then shuddered in abh.o.r.ence. "I should have known!" she exclaimed in tones of revulsion. "Who else would greet his guests while brazenly carrying his ... his dozy in his arms?"

Toby could hardly believe his ears. "Doxy?"

"Don't bother to act the innocent, you libertine! I suppose she's the notorious Lolly Matchin I've been hearing about."

She put a shaking hand to her forehead and turned in agitation to her husband. "There, you see the sort of place to which you've sent your daughter? Lord only knows what depravity she's witnessed in this house!"

"Has your wife taken leave of her senses?" Lady Edith asked in amazement.

"I might ask the same of all of you!" Birkinshaw retorted, putting a protective arm about his wife's shoulder. "If you can all stand about and witness this shocking scene, you're all either demented or depraved!" He looked around until he spotted Lord Edgerton in the far corner. "I never would have believed it of you, Edgerton. Would've sworn you were complete to a shade. Well, this bibble-babble won't do any good. Just send for my daughter and let us go."

"Send for her?" Alicia gawked. "But there she is, right in front of you."

"Where?" Birkinshaw asked in bewilderment. "Right there, of course," the doctor said, pointing.

"That one?" Birkinshaw asked, his eyes popping. "You mean... Miss Matchin?" his wife gasped. Emily gave a heartrending moan and buried her face in Toby's neck.

"Oh, my G.o.d!" Lady Birkinshaw muttered. "It's not Miss Matchin."

"Perhaps it ain't," Birkinshaw growled, "but it ain't my daughter either. I've never laid eyes on that female in my life! See here, Edgerton, what's going on here? Who is that imposter? And where are you hiding my Kitty?"

Chapter Twenty-Five.

Kitty, completely oblivious of the goings-on in the breakfast room, left her task of polishing the bra.s.s doork.n.o.bs on the upper floor (one of the few tasks Mrs. Prowne had decided she was fit to do, the housekeeper having been ordered by his lordship to keep the abigail from irritating her wounded hand) and stole down to peep in on Emily. To her surprise, she found the bed unoccupied and the room strangely deserted. She was about to leave and return to her doork.n.o.bs when she saw the note near the mirror. Closer inspection revealed her own name scrawled across the front. She tore it open with a feeling of foreboding.

Dearest Kitty, Emily had written in the neat, precise hand so carefully cultivated by the instructors at the Marchmont Academy. Please don't be angry with me for what I have done, but I must take myself away from here before my heart actually breaks in two. I do love him so, in spite of his rowdyish ways and despicable deeds, and I could not bear to watch his love for me turn to scorn when he learns that I've lied to him all this time. I intend to borrow a curricle from the stable and make my way back to school. I've thought this scheme over very carefully; it is precisely the sort of thing you would do in my place. Before I go, I wish to apologize for blaming you for my misfortune. You were not at fault. You promised me an adventure, and I have had one. Even if it has left a painful and permanent scar on my soul, I think, in a way, I will always be glad I have had it. I suppose it is unlikely that our paths will cross again, but please believe that in my heart you will always be my friend. Yours, forever, Emily. Please don't be angry with me for what I have done, but I must take myself away from here before my heart actually breaks in two. I do love him so, in spite of his rowdyish ways and despicable deeds, and I could not bear to watch his love for me turn to scorn when he learns that I've lied to him all this time. I intend to borrow a curricle from the stable and make my way back to school. I've thought this scheme over very carefully; it is precisely the sort of thing you would do in my place. Before I go, I wish to apologize for blaming you for my misfortune. You were not at fault. You promised me an adventure, and I have had one. Even if it has left a painful and permanent scar on my soul, I think, in a way, I will always be glad I have had it. I suppose it is unlikely that our paths will cross again, but please believe that in my heart you will always be my friend. Yours, forever, Emily.

Kitty read the note with a sinking heart. The thought of Emily driving a stolen curricle through the snow all the way to London made her sick with fear. If the girl had never learned to ride, she had probably never learned to drive, either. What if she overturned the equipage in the snow?

She dropped down on the bed to think. There was nothing to do but go after her. If she could contrive to get some sort of carriage from the stable, she could surely catch up with a driver of Emily's inexperience.

As soon as she'd worked out in her mind all the details, she leaped up from the bed and rummaged through the clothes chest until she found her reticule containing the pin money that her father had sent to her. Slipping it into her ap.r.o.n pocket, she flew down the hall to the back stairs. Once in her room, she began to breath easier. She was halfway to escape. Quickly she pulled from beneath her bed the wooden chest in which her clothing was stored. She took out Emily's shabby cloak and threw it over her bombazine. She searched in vain through all the pockets for a pair of gloves, but there were none. With a shrug, she took one last look at the tiny room, sighed, and closed the door behind her.

On stealthy feet she made her way to the main stairway where two footmen stood at their posts. Keeping to the shadows, she went around to the side where Jemmy stood. "Psst! Jemmy!" she hissed. "Over here!"

The footman looked around. "Here!" she whispered. "Behind the stairs."

With a suspicious frown, the footman approached her. "What're ye doin', ye jingle-brain?" he asked, looking at her cloak in amus.e.m.e.nt. "Goin' fer a ride in a sleigh?"

"Hush! Do you want someone to hear? I need your help."

"Well, y' ain't goin''t' get it. You been nothin' but trouble't' me, an' trouble's what I don't need."

"Do you need ten guineas?" she asked, showing him the coins.

"Ten-? Say, where'd ye get those? I'd go bail ye've stole 'em."

"Then you'd lose. Miss Jessup gave them to me. Do you want them or not? If you don't, I'll ask Charlie to-"

"Never mind Charlie. What do ye want me't' do?"

"I want you to get me a light carriage and two horses from the stable and bring them to the kitchen door."

"Oh, right-o!" the footman sneered. "I suppose old Reeves'll let me 'ave 'em, just like that."

"There's ten guineas for him, too."