Read Venetia for Free Online Page B

the lower jaw, and forcing up his head.
    Flurry recognized that voice too, and, much relieved, did his best to explain that the regrettable incident had arisen from a misunderstanding. Venetia, who, instead of seizing the opportunity to run away, had been angrily re-tieing the strings of her sunbonnet, exclaimed: “Oh, have you no discrimination, you idiotic animal?”
    Damerel, who was patting the repentant Flurry, looked up, his eyes narrowing.
    “And as for you, sir,” said Venetia, meeting that searching stare with a flaming look, “your quotations don’t make your advances a whit more acceptable to me—and they don’t deceive me into thinking you anything but a pestilent, complete knave !”
    He burst out laughing. “Bravo! Where did you find that?”
    Venetia, who had suddenly remembered the rest of the quotation, replied: “If you don’t know, I certainly shan’t tell you. That phrase is apt enough, but the context won’t do.”
    “Oho! My curiosity is now thoroughly roused! I recognize the hand, and see that I must carefully study my Shakespeare.”
    “I should think you had seldom employed your time more worthily!”
    “Who are you?” he demanded abruptly. “I took you for a village maiden—probably one of my tenants.”
    “Did you indeed? Well, if that is the way you mean to conduct yourself amongst the village maidens you won’t win much liking here!”
    “No, no, the danger is that I might win too much!” he retorted. “Who are you? Or should I first present myself to you? I’m Damerel, you know.”
    “Yes, so I supposed, at the outset of our delightful acquaintance. Later, of course, I was sure of it.”
    ‘Oh, oh—! My reputation, Iago, my reputation !”he exclaimed, laughing again. “Fair Fatality, you are the most unusual female I have encountered in all my thirty-eight years!”
    “Yon can’t think how deeply flattered I am!” she assured him. “I daresay my head would be quite turned if I didn’t suspect that amongst so many a dozen or so may have slipped from your memory.”
    “More like a hundred! Am I never to learn your name? I shall, you know, whether you tell me or no!”
    “Without the least difficulty! I am very much better known in this country than you, for I’m a Lanyon of Undershaw!”
    “Impressive! Undershaw? Oh, yes! your land marches with mine, doesn’t it? Are you in the habit of walking abroad quite unattended, Miss Lanyon?”
    “Yes—except, of course, when I have had warning that you are at the Priory!”
    “Spiteful little cat!” he said appreciatively. “How the devil was I to recognize Miss Lanyon of Undershaw in a crumpled gown and a sunbonnet, and without even the chaperonage of her maid?”
    “Oh, am I to understand, then, that if you had known my quality you wouldn’t have molested me? How chivalrous!”
    “No, no, I’m not chivalrous!” he said, mocking her. “The presence of your maid would have checkmated me, not your quality. I’m not complaining, but I wonder at such a little beauty’s venturing to roam about the country alone. Or don’t you know how beautiful you are?”
    “Yes,” replied Venetia, taking the wind out of his sails. “ Item, two lips, indifferent red— ”
    “Oh, no, you’re quite out, and have gone to the wrong poet besides! They look like rosebuds filled with snow !”
    “Is that from Cherry-ripe ?”she demanded. He nodded, much entertained by her suddenly intent look. Her eyes sparkled with triumph; she uttered a tiny gurgle of laughter; and retorted: “Then I know what comes next! Jet them no peer nor prince can buy, Till Cherry-ripe themselves do cry !So let that be a lesson to you to take care what poets youchoose!”
    “But you’re enchanting!” he exclaimed.
    She put out her hands quickly, to hold him off. “No!”
    He caught her wrists, and swept them behind her, clipping them in the small of her back, and so holding her chest to chest. Her heart beat fast; she felt breathless, but not