But was this chivalrous on his part? Was he not playing upon the feelings of one defenceless and in a dependent position--one who could not even flee?
He grew uncomfortable. He was painfully conscious of her presence, and a sudden mad longing came to him to take her in his arms, and kiss away the trouble from her eyes! And then the cynical and humorous side of his character made him smile at the idea of such feelings in a room full of guests! Guests of his own world, and for the humble secretary of his old love! He fretted under the restraint of his unease. And she was here in his house and he must suffer the temptation of her presence for three more days. He must not look at her--must not talk to her! He must not have any subtle understanding with her about the books--must not, in short, do anything he desired.
Lady Garribardine watched the pa.s.sage of events with an understanding eye. Something further must be done, she felt.
So just before dressing time, when the company had dispersed, she went with her host into his own sitting-room. The evening post had come in.
"Mordryn, I wanted to ask you, can I send a wire over to Hornwell. I have just heard Sir John Townly is staying there, and I want to suggest that he motor over to-morrow to tea. It will be a splendid chance for him to have a quiet hour with my Katherine Bush. I would like him to see her here as a guest; he is very much in love with her in his heavy way, and I believe I could get the matter settled all right if you would only help me, like a dear."
The Duke experienced a most unpleasant twinge. This was rather more than he had bargained for! Why should Sir John Townly be given this opportunity in his house!
"The match is quite unsuitable, Seraphim. I can"t think how you can countenance it."
Her Ladyship appeared deliberately to misunderstand him.
"But I a.s.sure you, Mordryn, Sir John is not in the least upset by her origin or her suburban relations; he realises the magnificent qualities of the creature herself, and he knows very well that she will make the finest hostess, and the most dignified figurehead for Dullinglea that he could find; besides, with her health and youth, he can look forward to a strong little son by this time next year."
Mordryn found himself absolutely revolted--Katherine--(so her name was Katherine?) Katherine--this delicious creature to be the mother of that shocking bore John Townly"s son!
The red flush mounted to his broad forehead.
"It is not their relative worldly positions I alluded to, Seraphim--but their ages and appearances--and, oh! tastes! I think it is perfectly inhuman of you, and I cannot countenance such a thing."
"Mordryn! I am really surprised!--how can it possibly matter to you? You must have seen for yourself that night at Gerard"s what a charming companion she can make, and how utterly she is wasted in the position of secretary--and yet you won"t help me to do the poor child this good turn!"
"If you put it in that way--ask whom you like, but I cannot think how any woman, to escape any position, could sell herself to such a man as John Townly!"
His tone was heated and his blue eyes flashed.
"That is just the tiresome part of it," and Her Ladyship looked concerned. "I believe she has your same foolish and romantic ideas, and so I thought if she could see him here among this fine company, perhaps the desire to remain in it, and the glamour of the thing might bring her up to the scratch. Mordryn, do help me like a kind friend. Just think, if she were to leave me, whom else would she ever see? She has quite separated from her own family; she has nothing but a life of drudgery in front of her, and she is fitted in every way to be a queen. She is so extremely self-controlled, she would never make any slips afterwards, and her ambitions could be gratified and make up for lack of love."
"I think the idea is disgusting," His Grace snapped impatiently; "but send your wire, by all means."
Then he abruptly turned the conversation, and presently Her Ladyship left him alone, very well pleased with her work! And the groom of the chambers was handed a warmly worded invitation to telegraph to Hornwell, as she pa.s.sed to her room.
CHAPTER XXIX
When he was left alone the Duke swore sharply to himself. He was not a man accustomed to the use of strong language--but occasions arose in life sometimes when a good sound oath seemed to relieve tension!
Then he paced up and down his long room. His imagination was on fire. He could see Katherine--he dwelt on the name "Katherine"--in the baboon embrace of old John Townly--loathsome picture!
Yes, of course, she would adorn any position, and Dullinglea was only a very moderate house. He could see her tall, slender, graceful figure sweeping in rich velvets through much larger rooms than it contained.
Such rooms, for example, as these, his own at Valfreyne!
She would sit to-night between young Wes...o...b..rough and old Barchester, but in a place where a gap in the flowers would give him, the host, a continuous view of her.
Then he went off to dress, in a fiery mood!
Katherine, meanwhile, had been looking over "Eothen," and noting the marked pa.s.sages, which she found to be the same mutual favourites they had discovered that night at Gerard"s.
Had her host underlined them since then, or were they marked before?
Then she peeped at "Abelard and Heloise" and turned over all the leaves.
None of them had any pencillings, but her eye caught this sensible paragraph, and it stiffened her jaded spirit, and made her feel more calm:
""How void of reason are men," said Seneca, "to make distant evils present by reflection, and to take pains before death to lose all the comfort of life.""
She was here at a splendid party as a guest like everyone else, and she must enjoy it and forget anything but the pleasure of the moment. But oh! if the Duke would only talk to her!
She wore the new white frock and looked quite beautiful, and some of the lilies of the valley shone in her belt.
Lady Garribardine was extremely pleased with her appearance and patted her arm.
"To-morrow Sir John Townly is coming over from Hornwell, child, and I want you to be agreeable to him for me, as I shall be very busy. You must take him for a little walk."
Her Ladyship knew that however irksome it would appear to Katherine, her command would be obeyed!
The Duke"s eyes were full of suppressed pa.s.sion at dinner, and his wit was caustic. Katherine could not hear it, but could see his face, and the puzzled expression which now and then came over the two ladies on either side of him; and once she met his gaze, and there was pain and a challenge in it. Excitement rose in her before dessert came. She knew--she felt--he was conscious of her presence--and that it was not indifference which kept him from her side. What was it all leading to?
It was very evident that he was determined not to succ.u.mb to whatever it might be. It was also evident that he certainly did experience emotion.
Katherine felt unhappy, but this must not prevent her from talking politely and sympathetically to the ladies she happened to be sitting next to in the great drawing-room, until the men came in. She remarked how protective and gracious her own dear Ladyship was being to her, saying a word in pa.s.sing and making her feel at home and an equal and a guest. She must be very grateful for these things and not look ahead.
Why had this new and sudden sense of values come over her? This realisation of the frightful obstacle created by the blemish of the three days? At the dinner at Gerard"s she had not so much as remembered them, their meaning had come in a flash with the thrill of the Duke"s kiss of homage upon her hand. Had she been contemplating union with Sir John, she would have looked upon them as a fortunate experience to guide her in her knowledge of men. So this was some psychological witness to the demands of the spirit of--love! Of love that desires to give only the pure gold untarnished to the lover.
She felt like a caged bird, and her triumphant evening of pleasing women, and earning the admiration of all who spoke to her, tasted only as Dead Sea fruit.
Now the Duke, when the men left the dining-room, walked straight to his own sitting-room. He was a man of rapid action and supreme self-confidence. He opened the inner door softly and listened--there was no sound, he could move with impunity. There was no one in the pa.s.sage room, but there was not a moment to be lost; the housemaids, he knew, would be coming round almost immediately with the cans of hot water for the night. He crossed the s.p.a.ce and deliberately entered the green room, turning on the light as he did so.
He hastily looked about at the books--Yes, she had put the two special ones by her bed. And "Abelard and Heloise" was underneath; he pulled it out and quickly found a pa.s.sage he wanted and with his gold pencil he scored it deeply underneath, and putting the volume on the top he swiftly left the room and was again in his own, and on his way to the white drawing-room. The whole affair had not taken two minutes. And with the knowledge of this fact accomplished, he looked almost serene as he sat down by a great lady"s side and determinedly avoided looking at Katherine.
So the evening pa.s.sed without speech between them beyond good-night, and Miss Bush retired sorrowfully to bed.
But she could not sleep, and kept on the light to read. There were "Eothen" and "Abelard and Heloise" close to her side, their order of placing reversed, since she had left them, this change effected by the housemaids, no doubt. And the love letters being on the top, she opened them first. She read many exquisite thoughts, and was just thinking of sleep when she turned a page and suddenly sat bolt upright in bed, for this is what she read:
"I wish to heaven you had not such a power over me." And the pa.s.sage was deeply underlined.
Her heart beat to suffocation. There had been no such mark in this place when she had read this very page before dinner. How had it come there?--Who--Who?--But there was only one person who could have done such a thing--the Duke!
She bent nearer the lamp and devoured the lines again, and then she pa.s.sionately kissed the words and turned out the light.
Next day, Sunday, a number of the party went to church, their host among them--but Katherine and Lady Garribardine did not accompany them. They were seated on the tennis lawn watching a game when the church-goers joined the group.
Three magnificent cedars of Lebanon made a great patch of shade, and here the chairs were placed. The Duke took one and stretched himself on it as though fatigued. His grey felt hat was tilted over his eyes. He made a pleasing picture of length of limb and grace and distinction--the same curious emotion crept over Katherine again as she had already experienced--half quiver, half shock--a strong desire to be very close to him, to touch him, to feel herself caressing and caressed. His hands were clasped idly upon his knee, and his voice as he spoke softly to a lady was lazy and complacent. Oh! how extremely bitter the whole situation was proving to be!
The emerald ring seemed to flash green fire as a tiny glint of sunlight struck it; it caught the attention of the sprightly dame to whom His Grace was talking.