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VI
The air in the old hall still hummed with the aftermath of Captain Yule’s departure when Cora slipped back in, cheeks pink from the walk from the station, to find Mrs. Gracedew waiting by the fireplace like a patient conspirator. “Has he been breaking––?” Cora asked in horror, counting on the Captain having left for good.
Mrs. Gracedew laughed, tapping her chest as if the memory of the scene he’d made upstairs was a fond secret. “Yes, we’ve had a scene! He went up to your father.” Cora’s stomach dropped—her father was out, he’d slipped down the back stairs to avoid the Captain. She blurted as much, and Mrs. Gracedew shrugged, reaching for her shawl. “Then he can join you here. I’m going.”
Cora’s heart leapt; she’d only just come back, risking another interruption, hoping to resume their conversation. “Just when I’ve come back to you—at the risk of again interrupting, though I really hoped he had gone, your conversation with Captain Yule?”
Mrs. Gracedew dropped the conversational ball. “I’ve nothing to say to Captain Yule.”
“You had a good deal to say a few minutes ago!”
“Well, I’ve said it, and it’s over. I’ve nothing more to say at all.” Her tone was final, but her habit of solicitude kicked in before she could leave. “What has become of my delightful ‘party’?”
“They’ve been dismissed through the grounds by the other door. But they mentioned a fresh lot of buyers coming.” Cora watched her friend’s face light up, the revival of interest almost yearning. “Why, what times you have! You must take the fresh lot—since the house is now practically yours!”
“Mine?” Cora looked blank.
“Why, if you’re going to marry Captain Yule.”
Cora coloured to the eyes. “I’m not going to marry Captain Yule!”
Mrs. Gracedew paled. “Why on earth did you tell me ten minutes ago that you were?”
“I told you nothing of the sort. I only told you he had been ordered to me!” Cora was almost indignant.
Mrs. Gracedew laughed until she could breathe again. “Like a dose of medicine or a course of baths?”
“As a remedy for the single life. Oh, I’ve mastered the matter now! But I won’t take him!”
“Ah, then, why didn’t you let me know?”
“I was on the point of it when he came in and interrupted us. It’s just to let you know I’m here now. I won’t jump at him, if that’s what you assumed.”
Mrs. Gracedew’s face warmed with sudden tenderness; she’d misread the situation entirely, assuming Cora was as eager for the match as her father. “You prefer the single life, then?”
“No—but I don’t prefer him!” Cora’s answer was crisp, no trace of doubt.
Her light was almost blinding for a moment, and Mrs. Gracedew had to squint to see the secret she was hiding. “You prefer someone else?”
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