Dennis Wheatley - The Rising Storm

Roger shook his head. "I'll think of it, but at present I can promise no more; the other matter is still too close to me. Tell me, though, of your Earl. On closer acquaintance does my lord St. Ermins come up to your first estimate of him?"

"Lud, yes! He is a proper man, and I am certain that you will like him greatly. Yet whether to tie myself again I am still a little in doubt. Apart from Diego, who failed to rouse me and so hardly counted, I have been chaste all through the winter. Now summer is here again; the sap is rising both in the vines and in my gipsy veins, so I must soon make up my mind. It must either be marriage or another lover."

"Let it be marriage then. From all you have told me of St. Ermins he sounds the very husband for you; and like myself 'tis over-time you gave up racketing and settled down."

She turned her face up to his with a wicked smile. "Roger, I'll make a bargain with you. If you'll take Amanda I'll take the Earl."

His eyes twinkled. "I am inclined to take you up on that."

"Do, Roger, do! And why waste a day longer of your precious youth than need be? I'll give you till tomorrow morning but no more. We'll strike our bargain then; or should you refuse I will still strike you as a horrid, ungrateful fellow from my life."

" 'Tis morning now. It must be well after two o'clock. And since from this secret retreat of yours 'tis a plaguey long walk back to Arlington Street, I must beg of you a shakedown for die night."

"Dear, foolish Roger." She put up a hand and stroked his cheek. "As though you would ever lack for a bed where I may be. But dost know that it is all of two years and a month since thou hast kissed me? Kissed me with more ardour than a brother, is what I have in mind."

Drawing back his encircling arm he looked down into her fair, smiling face with mingled delight and mirth. Then for the first time in many weeks he really laughed aloud.

"Strap me, Georgina! But thou art incorrigible! Dost realize that thou hast just invited me to make love to thee tonight, and yet would have me get myself engaged to wed Amanda tomorrow?"

She made a face at him. " 'Twill be time enough for us to attempt to turn over new leaves when we are married. Come, sir! Am I to find that 'twas no more than an empty compliment, when half an hour back thou didst infer that my lips would always hold a magic for thee? If not, thou art monstrous ill-mannered to keep a lady waiting."

TWO EXTRACTS FROM THE LONDON DAILY POST

BROOK—GODFREY. On July 17th 1790, at the Church of St. Thomas A'Becket, Lymington, in the County of Southampton, Roger MacElfic Brook, only fon of Rear-Admiral and Lady Marie Brook, of Grove Place, Lymington, to Amanda Charlotte Godfrey, only daughter of the late Colonel the Honourable Lancelot Godfrey; niece to Lady Marfham and Sir Harry Burrard of Walhampton Park.

ST. ERMIN S—ETHEREDGE. On July 17th, 1790, at St. George's, Hanover-Square, Charles William Clarence Fitz-Charles, 4th Earl of St. Ermin's, eldest son of the 3rd Earl, of Whiteknights Park, Northampton, to Georgina Penelope Etheredge, only daughter of Colonel Nicolas Thursby and widow of the late Sir Humphrey Etheredge, of Stillwaters, Ripley, Surrey.