Delia gave a watery chuckle and capitulated, sipping a little of the fiery liquid. It put heart into her and she took a couple more sips and then handed it back. She watched Lady Matterson screw the lid back on and move to the mantel, slipping the flask behind the clock.
“That’s where you keep it?”
“I have to hide it from Pegler. She doesn’t approve.” Resuming her seat, she patted the cushions next to her. “Come here to me.”
With reluctance Delia obeyed. She sat at a slight remove, but Aunt Gertrude grasped her hand and held it in her papery clasp.
“Now, my child, let us cease this pretence and discuss the matter sensibly.”
A sigh escaped Delia. “I find it hard to think sensibly about Giff, Aunt. He takes too many risks and I can’t help worrying.”
“The only risk worth thinking about is the one to your reputation, Delia. If your conduct becomes known —”
“It won’t become known, why should it? None who know the truth will betray me. And I’m careful to behave circumspectly in public.”
“You call it circumspect to go apart with the man?”
“It was perfectly legitimate at Sandsfoot Castle. We were exploring.”
“Fiddlesticks!”
“Well, at any rate, we looked as if we were.”
“And what in fact were you doing, if I may make so bold?”
Delia pulled her hand away. “Talking! Giff did not make love to me, if that is what you think.”
“But he could have done. That’s the point.”
Delia’s pulse skipped a beat and a warning of disaster loomed in her head. “What are you getting at, Aunt Gertrude? Be plain with me, if you please.”
Lady Matterson’s chin went up. “Hoity-toity! As if it wasn’t plain enough. There’s been sufficient to compromise you ten times over.”
“Compromise me?”
“And if you don’t know it, I’m certain young Giffard does.”
Delia’s heart was behaving in a manner as uncomfortable as it was distressing. The last thing she wanted was to have Giff thinking he was obligated to marry her. All at once she recalled his cryptic comment to her aunt. What had he said? Something about having the matter in hand once his affairs were settled. She’d been puzzled by it at the time.
“He — he’s said nothing about it to me,” she ventured.
“Naturally not. He’s in no position to do so at present. A pretty sort of fellow he would be to be offering in his current nameless state.”
“He’s not nameless,” Delia retorted, stung. “And I wouldn’t accept him if he did offer!”
“Then you ought to be in Bedlam, foolish child! I admit it’s not the match I would choose for you, but it’s too late to be repining.”
Thoroughly agitated, Delia lost no time in refuting this. “It’s no match at all if it’s done merely to satisfy convention. I won’t have Giff forced into it. For such a reason? Besides, it’s unnecessary. Nothing happened between us, and —”
“Don’t you want to marry the creature? It’s clear you care for him, after all.”
“That’s scarcely the point, is it?”
“Ha! Then you admit it?”
Her discomposure complete, Delia knew not what to say. She took refuge in the lateness of the hour, rising sharply. “I’m tired, Aunt. I’m going to bed.”
“Very well, but don’t think we’re done with this, Delia, because I have a deal more to say to you on this subject.”