The Buccaneers by Edith Wharton Page B

short square fingers, grew red. “In love with her?” he stammered. “I ... I never saw a girl that could touch her....”
    There was something curiously familiar about the phrase; and she reflected that the young man had not renewed his vocabulary. Miss Testvalley smiled faintly. “Conchita’s very charming,” she continued. “I wouldn’t for the world have anything—anything that I could prevent—endanger her happiness.”
    Lord Richard’s flush turned to a sudden pallor. “I—I swear to you I’d shoot myself sooner than let anything harm a hair of her head.”
    Miss Testvalley was silent again. Lord Richard stirred uneasily in his chair, and she saw that he was trying to interpret her meaning. She stood up and gathered her old beaded dolman about her shoulders. “I mean to believe you, Lord Richard,” she announced abruptly. “I hope I’m not wrong.”
    â€œWrong? God bless you, Laura.” He held out his blunt hand. “I’ll never forget—never.”
    â€œNever forget your promise about Conchita. That’s all I ask.” She began to move toward the door, and slowly, awkwardly, he moved at her side. On the threshold she turned back to him. “No, it’s not all—there’s something else.” His face clouded again, and his look of alarm moved her. Poor blundering boy that he still was! Perhaps his father had been too hard on him.
    â€œWhat I’m going to ask is a trifle... yet at that age nothing is a trifle.... Lord Richard, I’ll back you up through thick and thin if you’ll manage to get Miss Closson’s bridesmaids invited to the Assembly ball next week.”
    He looked at her in bewilderment. “The Assembly ball?”
    â€œYes. They’ve invited you, I know; and your fiancée. In New York, it’s considered a great honour—almost” (she smiled) “like being invited to Court in England.”
    â€œOh, come,” he interjected. “There’s nothing like a Court here.”
    â€œNo, but this is the nearest approach. And my two girls, the St. Georges, and their friends the Elmsworths are not very well known in the fashionable set which manages the Assemblies. Of course they can’t all be invited; and indeed Nan is too young for balls. But Virginia St. George and Lizzy Elmsworth ought not to be left out. Such things hurt young people cruelly. They’ve just been helping Conchita to arrange her dress, knowing all the while they were not going themselves. I thought it charming of them....”
    Lord Richard stood before her in perplexity. “I’m dreadfully sorry. It is hard on them, certainly. I’d forgotten all about that ball. But can’t their parents—?”
    â€œTheir parents, I’m afraid, are the obstacle.”
    He bent his puzzled eyes on the ground, but at length light seemed to break on him. “Oh, I see. They’re not in the right set? They seem to think a lot about sets in the States, don’t they?”
    â€œEnormously. But as you’ve been invited—through Mrs. Parmore, I understand—and Mr. Santos-Dios also, you two, between you, can certainly get invitations for Virginia and Lizzy. You can count on me, Lord Richard, and I shall count on you. I’ve never asked you a favour before, have I?”
    â€œOh, but I say—I’d do anything, of course. But how the devil can I, when I’m a stranger here?”
    â€œBecause you’re a stranger—because you’re Lord Richard Marable. I should think you need only ask one of the patronesses. Or that clever monkey Santos-Dios will help you, as he has with your correspondence.” Lord Richard reddened. “In any case,” Miss Testvalley continued, “I don’t wish to know how you do it; and of course you must not say that it’s my suggestion. Any mention of that would ruin everything. But you must