Empty-headed, of course.’ ‘Empty-headed! Fanny!’ ‘How was I to know which one you meant. You give so much attention to the other.’ They stared at each other across the jolting carriage. Adam saw the humorous gleam in his aunt’s eyes and knew that she hadn’t been missing anything. He laughed softly, in appreciation. ‘And sometimes at that I fancy Miss Amelia isn’t so empty-headed.’ ‘She must be if she is taken in by you.’ Adam stopped laughing, and frowned. ‘Yes. That’s what I hope and count on. Then she won’t be hurt too deeply. But don’t you agree that I must go on. There is something. That child wasn’t in a state of absolute terror today over nothing at all.’ Miss Marsh leaned forward. ‘What do you imagine it was?’ ‘Not the wild boar everyone is talking about. Although I grant you there were traces of a boar. I saw them myself. No, I haven’t the slightest idea, aunt. Or if I have, it’s too fantastic to put into words. No, no, aunt, I don’t know.
