The Marquis laughed.
“I had better see what I can do.”
He threw out a long line with an expertise that was unmistakable.
Bettine put down her own rod and ran to his side.
“I want to be able to do that, Papa.”
“I will teach you,” the Marquis said unexpectedly, “but for the moment I had better see what I can do about your luncheon.”
He made four or five more casts when suddenly there was a tug on the line.
“You have a fish! You have a fish!” Bettine cried out.
The Marquis started to reel in and then he said to the child,
“Come and take the rod with me and we will try and bring the fish in for Miss Walford to net.”
Nolita, who had been staring at what he was doing, hurriedly looked for the net that they had thrown down on the grass.
Carefully, steadying the rod, but otherwise letti
