Part 42 (1/2)
”You are wise, Diana”
”Why so free withhimself down beside her, his ar hand just touching her shoulder It was all the girl could do to keep fro She felt trapped and helpless, and her nerve was in pieces
”Nay, sweet! An end to this quibbling Bethink you, is it worth your while to anger id and silent
”I love you-ay, you shudder One day you will not do that”
”You call this love, your Grace?” she cried out, between scorn andnear it,” he answered imperturbably
”God help you then!” she shi+vered, thinking of one other who had loved her so differently
”Belike He will,” was the pleasant rejoinder ”But ander from the point It is this: you shall retire to your chamber at onceerarmed with the keyan you will swear to marry me to-morrow”
Very white, she ers closed over her shoulders, forcing her to remain
”No,away froled to be free of that hateful hand
”Oh, you brute, you brute! Let iven me your answer, sweetheart”
”It is no!” she cried ”A thousand tiht! I would rather die than wed you!”
”Very possibly But death will not be your lot, my pretty one,” purred the sinister voice in her ear ”Think carefully before you ansere it not better to marry me with all honour than to-”
”You devil!” she panted, and looked wildly round for so as open, she knew, for the curtain blew out into the rooin to think better of it, child? Remember, to-morroill be too late This is your chance, now In truth,” he took a pinch of snuff, ”in truth, it matters not to me whether you will be a bride or no”
With a sudden movement she wrenched herself free and darted to theIn a flash he was up and had caught her as she reached it, swinging her round to face him
”Not so fast, my dear You do not escapeher irresistibly towards him Sick with fear, she struck o! How dare you insulther against hirip of iron, his other arm about her shoulders
”For ly down at her beautiful, agonised countenance, with its wonderful eyes gazing ily at him, and the sensitive mouth a-quiver For one instant he held her so, and then swiftly bent his head and pressed his lips to hers
She could neither struggle nor cry out A deadly faintness assailed her, and she could scarcely breathe
”By God, it is too late!” he swore ”You had best give in, ht can avail you now”
And then the unexpected happened Even as in her last desperate effort to free herself she moaned the name of him whom she deemed hundreds ofwith a species of cold fury, sounded directly behind them
”You delude yourself, Belmanoir,” it said with deadly quiet
With an oath Tracy released the girl and wheeled to face the intruder
Framed by the dark curtains, draord in hand, murder in his blue eyes, stood my lord
Tracy's snarl died sloay as he stared, and a look of blank amazement took its place
Diana, almost unable to believe her eyes, dizzy with the suddenness of it all, stu: ”Thank God! Thank God! Oh, Jack!”
He caught her in his arently to the couch
”Dear heart, you never doubted I should coht you in France!” she sobbed, and sank down ast the cushi+ons
Carstares turned to meet his Grace Tracy had recovered froh his quizzing glass
”This is an unexpected pleasure, my lord,” he draith easy insolence
Diana started at the mode of address and looked up at Carstares, bewildered
”I perceive your sword in the corner behind you, your Grace!” snapped Jack, and flung over to the door, twisting the key round in the lock and slipping it into his breeches pocket
To Diana he was as a stranger, with no laugh in the glittering blue eyes, and none of the al politeness that usually characterised his bearing He was very white, with lips set in a hard straight line, and his nostrils slightly expanded
His Grace shrugged a careless refusal
”My dear Carstares, why should I fight you?” he inquired, seely not in the least annoyed by the other's intrusion
”I had anticipated that answer, your Grace So I brought this! ”
As he spoke Jack drove the sword he held into the wood floor, where it stayed, quivering
Nonchalantly Tracy took it in his hand and glanced at the hilt