The Car of Destiny | Page 9

at me."
"If I could have known, it would have saved me sleepless nights. For
now you're mine, my dearest, just as I am yours. Nothing can take you
from me now."
"Ah, I'm afraid! Even if--everything were different in your life, it
would be difficult; for--there's someone else in mine already."
"There can be no one else, since you care for me."
"Not truly in my life. But there's someone my mother wants me to
marry."
"The Duke of Carmona."
"You knew?"
"You see, I've thought of nothing but you; and I've learned all I could
about what concerns you."
"I don't like him, not even as a friend. He's handsome enough, but I'm
sure he has a most horrible temper. I could be afraid of him. I believe I
am afraid. And mother--you don't know her, but--when she makes up
her mind that you're to do a certain thing, you find yourself doing it.
That's one reason I was so glad when you came to-night, and said, 'The
next is our dance,' in such a determined way. Not only did you take me
away from him, but--I felt you'd try to keep me from him, in the end."
"Try!" I echoed. "I will keep you. Trust me my darling. I've been
foolish to come to Biarritz under another name. This isn't Spain; and
even a Casa Triana has a right to be here. But luckily not much harm's
done. Through the de la Moles I'll be presented to Lady Vale-Avon; I'll
tell her that, though compared to the days when my people counted for
something in the history of Spain, I'm penniless, still my father left me

enough to live on and keep a wife who loves me better than she loves
society. I'll tell Lady Vale-Avon that there are countries in which my
name's well thought of, even in these piping times; that there I'll do
something worth doing--"
"You've already done things worth doing," the girl broke in; "splendid
things."
"I've done nothing yet, but I'll change that. I'll ask your mother to give
me a chance--to wait--"
"No," she insisted. "Mother would refuse, and everything would be
worse than ever."
"Darling one, they couldn't be worse. Because now, I'm doing what I
oughtn't to do, although it's been forced upon me by my love. To
deserve you in the faintest degree, I must be open in my dealings. I
must speak to Lady Vale-Avon."
"She'll never consent."
"At least I shall have done the right thing. Now we've had this talk,
now you know that you're all the world, and heaven besides, to me,
even for your mother's sake you won't throw me over, will you?"
"No, a thousand times no. I didn't dream loving would be like this. It
would kill me to give you up."
"Then nothing can part us."
"It makes me feel brave to hear you say so. But--you don't know
mother."
"I know myself, and I trust you."
"I'm so young, and--I've never been allowed to have my own way. I've
always given up."
"Because you were alone, with no one to help you. Now you have me."

"That's true. But--"
"Precious one, there's no 'but.'"
"I wish I could think so! Yet something seems to say that if you speak
to mother, we shall be lost. I love you--but--do let it be kept secret for a
while."
"With what end?"
"I hardly know. Only, I've the strongest presentiment it would be best."
"And I've the strongest conviction that not only would it be wrong, but
that you wouldn't respect me if I consented."
"I beg of you, wait at least till the royalties leave Biarritz before you
tell mother, or anyone, who you are."
I could not help smiling, though rather bitterly. "You've heard about my
adventure in Barcelona?"
"Yes, from Angèle. I couldn't bear it if you were to have trouble here."
"There's no danger of that."
"One can't tell. Circumstances which you don't foresee might seem to
involve you in some plot. Oh, if you love me, wait till the royalties
have gone."
How could I refuse those soft eyes, and those little clasped hands?
I caught the hands and crushed them against my lips, the rosy fingers
that smelled of orris, and the polished nails like pink jewels. As I bent
over my love, the curtain which covered the doorway waved as in a
gust of wind.
Quick as light, Monica snatched away her hands, but it was too late.
Carmona was holding back the portière for Lady Vale-Avon.

He must have been watching. He must have known that I had brought
Lady Monica to this room. He must have fetched the girl's mother on
purpose to find us together.
These were the thoughts in my mind as I