‘Ow!’ He dropped the chair and turned on Cassian, and the landlady interposed herself with a bellow of, ‘That will do!’ that was equally ignored. Daizell leapt at the young man, crashing onto him from behind, and the young lady let out a scream.
It was not a scream of fear. It was pure ear-splitting noise, like a kettle come to the boil, and it was so long and loud and piercing that Cassian, reeling away, briefly wondered if the windows would survive. Daizell had his hands clapped over his ears; the angry young man ducked and cringed.
‘Thankyou,’ the young lady said into the stunned silence, giving herself a little shake. ‘Really, what great stupids men are. Bequiet, Tony, you are being nonsensical and jealous, and it is very tiresome. Hostess, please bring me something hot to drink, and I expect Tony will like ale.’
‘Young lady,’ the landlady said, swelling. ‘I will have nobrawling in this house, nor elopements either. I don’t hold with such things.’
‘I’mnot eloping with anyone,’ Daizell remarked to nobody in particular. The young man shot him an evil look.
Cassian said, ‘Ma’am, I quite understand your position, but it’s late. Is there anywhere close by for these travellers to go?’
‘Not till Snitterfield,’ the landlord said. ‘And that’s a fair way.’
‘Then, while your principles do you credit, you must see it would be quite wrong to turn away a young lady in the dark. I trust you will find yourself able to admit these guests.’ Daizell was giving him an odd look, possibly because he didn’t want to share an inn with the young lady, but that couldn’t be helped. ‘My companion and I will happily relinquish this parlour for the lady’s comfort. And, as the mother of a daughter, you’ll doubtless agree it would be a kindness to give the lady some attendance tonight.’
The landlady’s hands were on her hips, but Cassian thought she might have softened a little at that. ‘I’ll have no fighting and no immorality under my roof.’
The young lady blushed a fierce scarlet. ‘I amnotimmoral,’ she said heatedly. ‘And it is very unkind of you to say so.’
‘I think everyone would be better off for a drink,’ Daizell said. ‘I certainly would, if you’d be so kind, landlord. Cass, shall we retire to the other room?’
The landlady’s jaw tightened. ‘I can’t have an unmarried lady and gentleman left alone. This isn’t that sort of house. And my girl is busy making up beds.’
‘Then we’ll stay in here with them,’ Cassian said. ‘Nobody could object to that. We will have that ale, please, and tea for the lady.’
The host and hostess departed, he dragging out his iratewife. Sounds of marital discord rose from the hallway. The four in the parlour stood in stiff silent discomfort while ale was produced, and the table cleared, and a meal ordered. Finally the landlady put down a pot of tea and marched out of the room.
The young lady shut the door behind her. ‘Goodness, what a tiresome woman. Good evening.’ She smiled at Cassian. ‘Thank you for your kindness, that was most gentlemanly of you. My name is—’
‘Eliza,’ the man said warningly.
She glared at him. ‘What?’
‘You might not want to—’ He nodded meaningfully.
‘ “Don’t give your name, Eliza”?’ Daizell mimicked, with some incredulity. ‘Good Lord. Also, the lady and I have met, in case you forgot. Miss Beaumont, Mr Cassian.’
‘And this is Tony Marston,’ Miss Beaumont said. ‘Mr Marston, Mr Cassian, and Mr Charnage, so now we can all sit down before I scream.’
‘Don’t do that,’ Daizell said. ‘My nerves couldn’t take another of those. So, Miss Beaumont, eloping again?’
‘Daize!’ Cassian said.
Daizell took a healthy swig of his drink. ‘In fairness to myself, I should point out—’
‘You need not do any such thing,’ Miss Beaumont said hurriedly. ‘No hard feelings. I have quite forgot the matter.’
Daizell mouthedforgot. Mr Marston bristled. Miss Beaumont said, ‘Stop it, Tony. You needn’t be a dog in the manger: Mr Charnage didn’t elope with me or I him because welikedone another.’
‘Ouch,’ Daizell said. ‘Although not inaccurate. Soareyou eloping again?’
‘Well, yes, actually,’ Miss Beaumont said in a confiding tone. ‘You can’t blame me, can you?’
Cassian couldn’t help a surreptitious glance at Mr Marston. Daizell gave the man an openly examining look, then shrugged. ‘No accounting for taste.’
‘Daizell!’ Cassian said, louder, but Miss Beaumont gurgled. ‘You are dreadful. And I am sorry for saying you had followed me. I was so startled, and to be honest, I’ve been jumping at shadows all day. The fact is – oh, don’t be stupid, Tony, he already knows most of it, and I dare say we can trust his friend, and if we can’t, it’s too late anyway. You are a gentleman, sir, you would not betray a confidence?’
‘No indeed,’ Cassian said warily.
