unreservedly pursue her charge himself. He was much too old for her, after all.
‘Young Bellamy Crawford called on Poppy last evening, you know, Cecil. It was such a surprise to see him … And yet no surprise at all when you consider the similarity in their ages, don’t you think?’
‘Indeed,’ Captain Tyler replied nobly, picking up the hint. ‘I gained the distinct impression that he was full of admiration for Miss Silk … May I call you Poppy, Miss Silk? It’s so much less formal.’
‘Oh, please do, Captain Tyler.’
‘Thank you … And I was about to say, why shouldn’t he admire you if he’s so minded? You are a fine-looking young lady, Poppy. If I were him, I would have no scruples in indulging my admiration to the full.’
‘Well, he’s indulging his on Sunday afternoon, Cecil. Isn’t he, Poppy dear?’
Poppy smiled pleasantly and nodded. ‘Except that I think maybe Bellamy is always likely to choose the wrong woman for himself.’
‘Oh, in what way do you mean?’
‘Just that if I were him, I would hardly be so impetuous. Besides, I would be looking for a rich girl … If I were him.’
‘I must confess,’ Captain Tyler replied, ‘that money would never enter into it where I was concerned. I consider a person’s character a much more important qualifier.’
‘You mean irrespective of their standing?’ Aunt Phoebe asked.
‘Financial or social. It matters not a jot. But things are somewhat different for a man. A woman, on the other hand, is prone to accepting the hand of her wealthiest admirer. If he’s handsome to boot, then so much the better for her.’
The doorbell rang again and Aunt Phoebe glanced with puzzlement at Poppy. ‘Who could that be? Not Bellamy again, I trust.’
As Esther answered the door, they listened. Besides Esther’s voice they heard only the voice of another woman, which Poppy recognised. The door to the sitting room opened and Esther announced that a Miss Catchpole had called to see Poppy.
‘Minnie!’ Poppy exclaimed and shot up eagerly from her seat to greet her friend. ‘Minnie, come in. What brings you here?’
‘Well, I got the right house, by the looks o’ things. Hello, Poppy. And you must be Aunt Phoebe …’
‘Miss Catchpole, how nice to meet you at last,’ Aunt Phoebe said, surprised at how decently dressed this young woman was for somebody of her background. She was thus more inclined to welcome her into her home. ‘I’ve heard so much about you.’
‘And I’ve heard a lot about you an’ all.’
‘This is my cousin Captain Tyler, Miss Catchpole … Captain, let me introduce you to Poppy’s friend, Miss Minnie Catchpole.’
‘Delighted, Miss Catchpole. So, you are a friend of Poppy.’
‘Oh, have bin for donkey’s years,’ Minnie affirmed with a grin. ‘I say, Captain, what’s that you’m a-drinkin’?’
‘Whisky. Do you like whisky, Miss Catchpole?’
‘Hey, I love whisky.’ She sat on the sofa beside the Captain. ‘And call me Min. I ain’t one for all this Miss Catchpole malarkey.’
‘As you wish, Minnie. And you can call me Cecil.’
‘Cecil?’ Minnie’s distaste for his name showed on her face. ‘No, I’d rather call yer Captain, I think. I like the sound o’ that better.’
He grinned. ‘Then Captain it is.’
‘Would you like me to pour you a glass of whisky, Minnie?’ Poppy asked.
‘Yes, if you can spare a drop.’
Poppy handed her a glass.
‘Ta, my wench.’ She took a good slurp.
‘You didn’t come to my party, Minnie. I wondered what had happened to you.’
‘I know. I’ve come to say sorry. I got me a lovely frock an’ all.’
‘So why didn’t you come? You’d have loved it.’
‘Well, to tell you the truth, it was ’cause I wun’t’ve knowed nobody else, only you, Poppy. And I knowed all the chaps would be wanting to dance with yer. I din’t want to be no wallflower.’
‘You’d have been no wallflower, Minnie, I’ll be bound,’ Captain Tyler remarked amiably. ‘We’d have wanted to dance with you as well, us men. No doubt, you would have looked absolutely exquisite in your new dress. You could most certainly have marked your card with my name … several times over … had it pleased you to do so.’
Minnie smiled interestedly at this man who was charming, a quality that had been missing in other men she’d known. And he was so much older than she was. ‘That’s kind of yer to say so, Captain. And I don’t see why I shouldn’t mark me card wi’ your name, neither. I bet you’m a good dancer an’ all, ain’t yer?’
‘Tolerably light on my feet, Minnie. I manage to get around the floor without too much stumbling.’
Minnie laughed. ‘’Cept when you’ve had a few, eh?’ She gave him a friendly nudge.
‘Indeed, Minnie.’ Now Captain Tyler laughed heartily. ‘Except when I’ve had a few, as you suggest.’
‘Poppy, I bought yer a present for your birthday.’ Minnie felt in the pocket of her skirt and pulled out a smallish wrapped cube.
‘Thank you, Minnie. What is it?’
‘Open it and see. I thought it’d be useful.’
All eyes were focused on Poppy as she opened the package. At last she removed all the wrapping and held it up to inspect it.
‘An ink stand!’ she exclaimed with joy.
‘Wi’ silver cap and base. Hallmarked, an’ all,’ Minnie added proudly, and took another swig of whisky.
‘Oh, thank you, Min. That’s going to be most useful.’
Min licked her lips. ‘I reckoned as much, what with all the writing you must be doing these days.’
‘A fine gift,’ Aunt Phoebe confirmed, realising it must have been expensive. ‘It’s very good of you, Minnie.’
‘She’s worth it, Aunt Phoebe, my mate Poppy.’
The four continued with enlivening conversation. Captain Tyler was struck by Minnie’s artless chatter and her unpretentious manner. He teased her gently and made her laugh, and she made the others laugh in turn.
After about an hour, he said, ‘What o’clock is it, I wonder? I’ve left my watch at home. I’ve no wish to drink you clean out of whisky, dear Phoebe, nor outstay my welcome.’
