“Well, Andrew?” She gave him a careless hand to kiss, but smiled sweetly up at her husband. “My headache is so much better,” she told him, “and they said that Andrew was come to see you. So I came downstairs.” She turned eagerly to her brother. “Tell me, Andrew, is Tracy at home?”

“Lord, yes! He arrived yesterday, devil take him! Do you want him?”

“Oh, yes,” she nodded. “I want to see him again. I’ve not set eyes on him for an age. I want you to take me back with you.”

“Surely, my dear, ’tis a trifle late in the day for such a drive?” demurred Richard, trying to conceal his annoyance. “Can you not wait until tomorrow?”

“Faith, you’ll have to, Lavvy, for I’ll not take you today, that’s certain. I’m riding to Fletcher’s when I leave here. Tracy can visit you tomorrow an he chooses.”

“Will he?” she asked doubtfully.