Part 33 (1/2)
”Then I had best keep quiet and wait to see what will happen.”
”There is naught else for thee to do, for surely thou canst not go below, thou wouldst be seen, and--”
”--and, what, Sweet?”
”--and be taken prisoner.”
”And wouldst thou be pained, Sweet?” He drew her close, his dark curls swept her face as he bent his head. Nor did he wait for an answer, but plied her with another question that the moment and the closeness gave license to. ”Wilt give, Sweet, the nuptial kiss--'tis my due?” She raised her head from his shoulder ever so slightly to answer him, but the words came not, for his lips were upon hers. She was thrilled with his tenderness; 'twas more than she ever could have thought. And as he held her close, she, not unwilling, declared separation would be instant death. She wondered how she ever could have withstood love so long. And he kissed her again and again, saying heaven could not offer greater favour. ”Dost feel happy now, Sweet?”
She answered not, but stood, her head leant against the rare and scented lace of his steenkirk, held captive, trembling with an ecstasy too sweet to be accounted for.
”Thou dost tremble, Kate; has thy fear not left thee yet?”
”Nay,” came soft and breathless from her full red lips. ”I am still afraid.”
”But what dost thou fear now, so close wrapped?”
”I know not; 'tis a strange fear. If thou shouldst be taken from me, I should die; 'tis this I fear most of all, and even for a separation--nay, nay, I could not live.”
”Oh, Sweet, 'tis excess of gladness that thou art wife--wife, the word alone fills me with rapturous exaltation. Wouldst be glad if we had never met thus, should separation come?”
”Nay, a thousand times, nay, these moments are worth more than all my life heretofore.”
”Hast forgotten, I must leave the castle before very long, and an _adieu_ must be said to thee?”
”I have not forgotten, but 'twill only be for a day. 'Twould be hazardous for thee to go until everything is quiet about.”
”And until I have quieted thy fears; until I have told thee of a strong man's love--my love for thy glorious, youthful beauty. Thy hair, Kate, is more precious than all the amber and bronze the world holds; 'tis rich, soft and heavy, with glorious waves. Thy face so filled with love's blushes warms my breast where it doth lie. The glory of thy eyes that are ever submerging me in their azure depths.
Thy slender, white neck and graceful sloping shoulders. Indeed, Sweet, thou art wonderfully made. There could not be a more perfect being.
And thou art mine, Sweet; 'tis a wonder that rough man could be so blest. Thou dost often feign coldness, Kate, and now I wonder where thou didst find such condition. 'Twas most unnatural, and how thou couldst so well a.s.sume it--but I have found thy true heart. Sweet Kate, thou hast at last fallen victim to Cupid's darts, and fortune hath played me fair and put me in the way to receive such priceless gift, whose dividends are to be all my own.” His warm words came so fast and he was so pa.s.sionate and tender that Katherine took fright and thought 'twas not like Sir Julian to be so, and yet to have him otherwise? nay, she loved him thus, and she remembered the moment he had pressed her hand as they rode through the forest; aye, he could be as loving and tender as--as--She did not finish the thought, for her lord's jewelled fingers had caught her hand and his arm held her close, pressing her tenderly; his lips resting upon hers until she grew faint with his ardour.
At last night paled into dawn. The c.o.c.ks began to crow l.u.s.tily. About the edges of the great windows in the chamber the light began to peep as if loath to cast one disturbing glance athwart the room. There was a fluttering sigh from the folds of the maiden's handkerchief as her lover bent over her, saying,--
”_Adieu_, Sweet, _adieu_ once more. Let me kiss thy eyelids close until they pent these tears that parting hath wrung from thee, and yet, were they not, I would be without weapon, void of panoply, equipped not--”
”But thy urgent tongue and tenderness doth armour thee for conquest!”
”Aye, 'tis love's armour; but thy tears make me strong to enter strife with men. I know 'tis love drives thee, and when that love is for me, I can win all battles.”
”Thou must haste before dawn, or thou wilt be taken; for we do not know whether the young man still lives; and Lord Cedric will kill thee if he can.”
”There is no doubt but what he lives. His Grace's physicians have no doubt healed the burden of his pain long ago. But do not thou think of him, think only of this sweet night and--dream of our meeting again.
And if his lords.h.i.+p keeps thee prisoner, tell Janet thou art fast wed and she will help thee to our _rendezvous_ to-morrow. Pray, Sweet, that the day may be short, for now I see only cycles of time until the set of morrow's sun.”
Dawn broke into a new day. Suns.h.i.+ne bathed old Earth in golden splendour. The day grew warm, as higher and higher leapt Phoebus, until he rested high and hot upon Zenith's bosom, causing all mankind to pant by his excess.
Slowly Katherine raised her lazy eyelids until the s.h.i.+ning blue beneath lay in quivering uncertainty. She smiled up at Janet, saying, sleepily,--
”I've a notion not to arise to-day. 'Twill be long and wearisome, and hot. What is the use? There is nothing in the world to get up for!”