"
"I don't mean to let the Duchess interfere with me," said Arabella
in a whisper.
That evening Lord Rufford was very good-natured and managed to
arrange everything. Lady Chiltern and another lady said that they
would be glad to go to the meet, and a carriage or carriages were
organised. But nothing was said as to Arabella's hunting because
the question would immediately be raised as to her return to
Mistletoe in the evening. It was, however, understood that she was
to have a place in the carriage.
Arabella had gained two things. She would have her one day's
hunting, and she had secured the presence of Lord Rufford at
Mistletoe for Sunday. With such a man as his lordship it was almost
impossible to find a moment for confidential conversation. He
worked so hard at his amusements that he was as bad a lover as a
barrister who has to be in Court all day,--almost as bad as a
sailor who is always going round the world. On this evening it was
ten o'clock before the gentlemen came into the drawing-room, and
then Lord Rufford's time was spent in arranging the party for the
meet on Monday. When the ladies went up to bed Arabella had had no
other opportunity than what Fortune had given her at dinner.
And even then she had been watched. That juxtaposition at the
dinner-table had come of chance and had been caused by Lord
Rufford's late arrival.
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