Page:The Great Roxhythe - Georgette Heyer.pdf/428

. . . Thank God . . . for Whitehall . . . and my . . . own master. Curse . . . the dolt! Why . . . must he sit . . . in your place? . . . So you will leave . . . me, Christ? After all these . . . years. Did you bring my mask? . . . You know me . . . very well . . . don't you? You will . . . not stay with me? You make too much . . . out of . . . too little. I regret . . . nothing . . . The better . . . part . . . the better . . . part . . . Cor . . . dieu! I would choose the same . . . the same . . ." The brown eyes were frowning. "Why . . . must you sit . . . in his place? Memories . . . only . . . memories . . . What if I did . . . lose all? The . . . one friend . . . the one friend. . . . Nothing matters . . . save your pleasure, Sir. I am . . . busied with . . . your affairs." Suddenly he laughed. "They . . . remind me of . . . cabbages! . . . a fruitful topic!" He drew his hand away, passing it across his eyes. "You remember . . . the green hangings . . . don't you, Christ?" His hand fell away. He looked at Lady Frances' bowed head. "I . . . have been . . . dreaming. I thought Christ was . . . here. Fanny?"

"Dear David?" Lady Frances tried to choke the sobs that rose to her lips.

Roxhythe was smiling now.

"You . . . remember how Chris . . . laughed? It always . . . pleased me. He laughed . . . because I objected . . . to the green . . . hangings. They are gone . . . now. I had them . . . changed. It is . . . eight years. A . . . long time, my . . . dear."

"Yes, David. You still have—me."

"Of course. You . . . could never . . . quite . . . disown me . . . could you?"

"I am always—your friend, David. We understand one another."

The smile grew.

"But then you . . . are not . . . impenetrable, you know!"

"Am I not? How—you love to—tease me, David!"