Lais’s hand was on his arm.
“No, wait, Silvanus, I wish to talk to you.”
“Not now,” he said sharply, “I have to play host to my guests. Surely even you can understand that.”
There was a sharpness in his tone that made Lais’s eyes narrow for a moment and her mouth tighten ominously. She had a quick temper and Lord Manville was driving her hard. But she was too clever to show her annoyance and, when they went back into the salon, she held out her hand prettily saying,
“Be my banker, please, you and Captain Willoughby are not the only people who wish to test their luck this evening.”
Lord Manville gave her what guineas he carried in his vest pocket and turned away.
Looking around the room he saw that Candida was no longer there and thought that she would have retired to bed. He had know
