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staying in Richmond or shall I see you
in the Club on Friday?’
    ‘Neither. I
leave for Amberley when I’ve settled matters with young Dacre.’
    Mr Ingram
stared at him. ‘You’re mad! It’s January and there’s more snow on
the way, if I’m any judge.’
    ‘I’m only going
to Hertfordshire,’ the Marquis protested. ‘It’s not entirely beyond
the realms of civilisation, you know – and I haven’t seen the place
in over a year. My agent writes of a score of matters requiring my
attention and, if I don’t go now, I doubt I’ll get there before the
spring. Only four days back in London and already the tentacles of
Society are beginning to close in on me.’
    ‘You may find
they unclose again fast enough after tonight,’ warned Jack,
reverting to his original theme. ‘I know Robert Dacre is a spoilt
and mannerless young cub sharply in need of a kicking but he
already resents you more than is reasonable and, given the
opportunity, I believe he’d be glad to do you a mischief.’
    ‘Don’t worry.
He won’t be given the opportunity.’
    ‘Well, I hope
not.’ Mr Ingram eyed his friend with resigned exasperation. ‘You’re
not going to discuss it, are you?’
    ‘No. I rather
hoped, you see,’ replied the Marquis with a hint of wistfulness,
‘that I didn’t need to.’
    Jack was not
proof against that tone.
    ‘Oh devil take
you, Nick – you’re impossible. Go home to bed.’
    Amberley
laughed. ‘Is that a blessing or a curse? Either way, I feel I
should sympathise with you.’
    ‘Cold comfort!’
Jack hesitated and then said, ‘By the way – what happened to Fanny?
I take it you didn’t bring her back with you?’
    His lordship
turned back to survey him mockingly from the middle of the
road.
    ‘No. I didn’t
bring her back. I think, like you, she found my levity rather
trying – especially when relating to such vital necessities of life
as emerald tiaras and Mediterranean villas. At all events, she
hurled a coffee-pot at my head one morning, favoured me with a
sadly unflattering description of my person, my character and my …
er … capabilities – and finished with a graphic hypothesis on my
genealogy. Then she ran off with a Genoese Count. A very rich Genoese Count, so I believe.’
    ‘Oh dear,’ said
Jack. ‘So what did you do?’
    ‘The only thing
possible,’ replied Amberley gravely. ‘I’m afraid that I
laughed.’
     
~ * * * ~
     
     
     

 
TWO
     
    The clock was
just striking noon when the Marquis of Amberley’s valet informed
him that the Honourable Robert Dacre had arrived and was waiting to
see him. Still gorgeously attired in a frogged silk dressing-gown,
the Marquis raised his eyes from the absorbing task of buffing his
nails and said gently, ‘Already? Well, well.’
    Saunders met
the guileless stare stoically.
    ‘Yes, my lord.
Shall I get your lordship’s coat?’
    ‘My coat? Ah
yes.’ Amberley leaned back in his chair and surveyed the garment
pensively. ‘Do you know, Jim – I don’t believe I’ll wear the grey
after all. It has an appearance of austerity that I feel may not
appeal to Mr Dacre. I shall wear … claret.’
    ‘Yes, my lord.’
Well aware what game was being played, a sardonic gleam replaced
Saunders’ wooden expression as he turned to restore the grey coat
to the clothes-press.
    ‘Or should it
be blue?’ mused the light voice behind him. ‘Blue … with the cream
embroidered vest.’
    The valet
turned back with every appearance of helpfulness.
    ‘There’s the
purple velvet you haven’t worn yet, my lord.’
    ‘Mm.’ Mischief
danced in the grey-green eyes but his lordship’s mouth was prim.
‘But it seems a pity to waste it on a mere … on a journey. Don’t
you agree?’
    Saunders’
impassivity because a trifle strained.
    ‘As you say, my
lord.’ He fixed his gaze on a point some six inches above his
master’s head and said disinterestedly, ‘I quite forgot to tell
you, my lord – but Barrow did happen to mention as how