The grand old lady took the haughty young beauty in her arms, calling her "daughter," and bidding her welcome to Gardiner Castle, her future home.
"Ah! no wonder the man I loved deserted me for this beautiful being all life, all sparkle, all fire," was the thought that rushed through Bernardine"s breaking heart.
Then suddenly the old lady remembered her, and turned to her quickly, saying:
"Come forward, my dear girl. I wish to present my new companion to my son and his bride."
CHAPTER XLVI.
Bernardine stood still. She could not have moved one step forward if her life depended on it; and thinking she had not heard, the old lady turned to her, and repeated:
"I want my son and his wife to know you, my dear. You have been but a short time beneath this roof, but in that time you have made yourself so indispensable to me that I could not do without you."
Both Jay Gardiner and his wife glanced carelessly in the direction indicated by his mother.
The room was in such dense shadow that they only saw a tall, slim form in a dark dress that seemed to melt into and become a part of the darkness beyond.
They bowed slightly in the most thoughtless manner; then turned their attention to Mrs. Gardiner, who had commenced telling them how eagerly she had watched for their coming, and of the strange presentiment that something was going to happen.
That moment stood out forever afterward in the life of hapless Bernardine.
She thought that when her eyes rested on the face that had been all the world to her, she would fall dead at his feet. But she did not; nor did the slightest moan or cry escape her white lips.
She had expected that Jay Gardiner would cry out in wonder or in anger when he saw her; that he would recognize her with some show of emotion.
But he only looked at her, and then turned as carelessly away as any stranger might have done. And in that moment, as she stood there, the very bitterness of death pa.s.sed over her.
Mrs. Gardiner"s next remark called their attention completely away from her, for which she was most thankful.
"Dear me, how very selfish I am!" exclaimed the grand old lady, in dismay. "I had forgotten how time is flying. The guests will be wondering why you and your bride tarry so long, my dear boy. A servant will show you to your suite of rooms. Your luggage must have been already taken there. You will want to make your toilets. When you are ready to go down to the reception-room, let me know.
"Do not forget to wear all the Gardiner diamonds to-night, my dear,"
were the lady-mother"s parting words. "Every one is expecting to see them on you. They are famous. You will create a sensation in them; you will bewilder, dazzle, and astonish these country folk."
Bernardine did not hear the young wife"s reply. She would have given all she possessed to throw herself on her knees on the spot his feet had pressed and wept her very life out.
Ah! why had he wooed her in that never-to-be-forgotten past, made her love him, taken her heart from her, only to break it?
A moment later, Miss Margaret glided into the room and went straight up to her mother"s side.
"I have just greeted and welcomed Jay and his bride, mamma," she said, speaking before her mother"s companion quite as though she had not been present. But she paused abruptly as though she thought it best to cut the sentence short.
"Well," replied her mother, eagerly, "do you like Jay"s bride, Margaret?
You always form an opinion when you first meet a person, which usually proves to be correct."
"My brother does not look quite happy," replied Miss Margaret, slowly.
"His bride is most beautiful--indeed, I have never met a young woman so strangely fascinating--but there is something about her that repels even while it draws me toward her."
"I experienced the same feeling, Margaret," returned Mrs. Gardiner. "But it seems to me only natural that we should experience such a sensation when looking upon the face of the woman who has taken first place in the heart of my only boy and your only brother. As to Jay not being quite happy, I think that is purely your imagination, Margaret. Theirs was a love match, and they are in the height of their honey-moon. Why should he not be happy, I ask you!"
"And I reply, mamma, that I do not know," replied Miss Margaret, thoughtfully. "It is simply the way the expression of his face and his manners struck me. But I must hurry down to our guests again. Will you accompany me, mamma, that we may both be together to receive them in the drawing-room and present them?"
The young wife stood before the long French mirror, scarcely glancing at the superb picture she presented, as Antoinette, her maid, deftly put the finishing touches to her toilet.
"There is only one thing needed to make my lady fairly radiant to-night," declared Antoinette, in her low, purring voice, "and that is the diamonds. You will let me get them all and deck you with them--twine them about that superb white neck, those perfect arms and----"
"Hush!" exclaimed Sally, impatiently. "Didn"t you hear me say I shouldn"t wear the diamonds to-night."
Jay Gardiner, entering his wife"s _boudoir_ unexpectedly at that moment, could not help overhearing her remark.
His brow darkened, and a gleam of anger shot into his blue eyes. He stepped quickly to his wife"s side.
"You _will_ wear the diamonds!" he said in the most authoritative tone he had yet used to her. "You heard my mother express the wish that you should do so. Moreover, it has been the custom in our family for generations for brides to wear them at a reception given in honor of their home-coming."
With these words, he strode into his own room--an inner apartment--and closed the door after him with a bang.
Looking up into her young mistress"s face, the shrewd Antoinette saw that she was greatly agitated, and pale as death. But she pretended not to notice it.
"Shall I not get the diamonds from your little hand-bag, my lady?" she asked, eagerly.
"No; you can not get them," cried Sally, hoa.r.s.ely, her teeth chattering, her eyes fairly dilating with fright; "_they are not there!_"
CHAPTER XLVII.
Young Mrs. Gardiner stooped down until her lips were on a level with the maid"s ear.
"My diamonds are not in the little leather hand-bag, Antoinette,"
she panted. "The hour has come when I must make a confidant of you, and ask you to help me, Antoinette. You are clever; your brain is full of resources; and you must help me out of this awful web that has tangled itself about me. I--I lost the diamonds on the night of the grand ball--the last night we were at Newport, and--and I dare not tell my husband. Now you see my position, Antoinette. I--I can not wear the diamonds, and I do not know how to turn my husband from his purpose of making me put them on. He may refuse to go down to the reception-room--or, still worse, he may ask for them. I can not see the end, Antoinette. I am between two fires. I do not know which way to leap to save myself. Do you understand?"
"Perfectly, my lady," returned the wily maid. "Leave your trouble to me.
I will find some way to get you out of it."
"You must think quickly, Antoinette!" cried Sally, excitedly. "He said he would return for me within ten minutes. Half that time has already pa.s.sed. Oh--oh! what shall I do?"
"You must not excite yourself, my lady," replied Antoinette, quickly.
"Worry brings wrinkles, and you can not afford to have any but pleasant thoughts. I have said you can rely upon me to think of some way out of the dilemma."
"That is easier said than done, Antoinette," declared her mistress, beginning to pace excitedly up and down the room, the color burning in two bright red spots on her cheeks.
Antoinette crossed over to the window, and stood looking out thoughtfully into the darkness. Her brain was busy with the numerous schemes that were flitting through it.
At that, moment fate pointed out an unexpected way to her. She heard footsteps in the corridor, and just then it flashed upon Antoinette that she had heard her master giving orders to his valet to bring him a gla.s.s of brandy. The man was returning with it.