Part 15 (1/2)
The Marquis swore beneath his breath.
”I might have guessed that was the sort of construction he would put on it,” he said sharply.
”He a s-said that he was a prepared to m-make a b-bargain.”
”What sort of bargain?”
Again it was hard to answer the question.
”He a s-said,” Torilla faltered after a moment, ”that I could either a dine a alone with him a t-tomorrow night in a a p-private room, or I m-must pay him a five thousand pounds before n-noon.”
”So that is his game!” the Marquis said quietly.
He bent forward and put one hand over Torilla's fingers, which she had been entwining together in her agitation.
”It is all right, Torilla. I will deal with this. I know this type of bounder and I promise you that shall not be troubled any further.”
”I am not w-worrying about a myself,” Torilla said, ”b-but Beryl.”
The Marquis's fingers on hers gave her the same sensations she had felt before when he touched her in the Park.
She felt a streak of lightning stab through her and she had an irrepressible impulse to cling to his hand, to hold on to him tightly and beg him to take care of her.
It was not only Sir Jocelyn, she thought wildly, it was Lord Arkley, her aunt manoeuvring her into marriage, and what she herself felt about the men who approached her. Then she told herself severely that the Marquis belonged to Beryl and things were complicated enough without her relying on him as she longed to do.
The Marquis sensed her agitation and said quietly, ”It is all right. I promise you it will be all right.”
”If only I had a told Beryl that we had met when I first a arrived at The Hall,” Torilla said.
”Why did you not do so?” the Marquis asked in his deep voice.
Torilla found it impossible to answer him.
How could she say that, while she knew she should be ashamed of behaving as she had with a stranger, it had been the most wonderful moment that had ever happened in her life?
As if he knew the conflict in her mind and understood, the Marquis rose to his feet.
”Go back to the ballroom and enjoy yourself, Torilla. Leave me to deal with everything.”
”Supposing a Sir Jocelyn a ?”
”He will do nothing to hurt either you or Beryl,” the Marquis answered. ”I have asked you to trust me even though you think you cannot do so.”
”I do a trust you,” Torilla answered.
”Despite everything you think about me?”
She raised her eyes to his face and now it was impossible to look away.
She felt that, without his touching her, she was captive in his arms, held by a spell that made her feel as if they reached out to each other across Eternity.
Then abruptly, as if he forced himself to do so, the Marquis looked away from her and said in a different tone of voice, ”Your father sends you his love and hopes you are enjoying yourself.”
”M-my a father?”
Torilla thought she could not have heard him correctly.
”I have been to Barrowfield,” the Marquis explained. ”I spent some time with your father and I think you will be glad to know that everything he suggested will be put into operation immediately.”
”Do you a mean a ?” Torilla asked, and she could hardly breathe the words.
”The Buddle air-pump, the safety lamps, new water pumps, better safety precautions a there is a whole list of them!”
”I don't a understand,” Torilla stuttered, but there was a light in her eyes.
”You were right,” the Marquis said, ”completely and absolutely right in what you said to me. The pit is indeed a h.e.l.l that should never have been allowed to exist.”
Torilla could only stare at him speechless as he went on, ”I have sacked the overseer and your father helped me to engage another man. I have forbidden the employment of children under the age of sixteen in my mine and where it is possible women will be excluded altogether.”
Torilla clasped her hands together.
”I think I am a dreaming.”
”You father said very much the same thing,” the Marquis smiled. ”There will be presents of money and pieces of beef at Festivals and for the old, and, as in the Fitzwilliam mines, work incentives a four s.h.i.+llings for 'takking bra.s.s' when the men work a full week of six days, besides an increase in their ordinary wages.”
Torilla gave a little cry of joy.
”How could you do a anything so wonderful a so marvellous?”
”It is only what you told me to do.”
”But I never thought a I never dreamt a ”
She suddenly put her hands up to her face.
”I knew afterwards that I should have asked you to help instead of attacking you as I a did.”
”I deserved it. I am the last person to plead ignorance when it is a case of neglect. I deserved everything you said to me, Torilla, and a great deal more.”
”And now it will a all be a changed,” she sighed and there were tears in her eyes.
”A coal mine is always a coal mine and not a pleasant place for anyone, especially someone like you,” the Marquis answered. ”But your father is satisfied.”
”How can I ever thank you?”
Even as she spoke, the colour rose in her face as she remembered that she had asked the same question once before.
The Marquis, she knew, thought the same and once again her eyes were held by his.
”Now that is settled,” the Marquis said very quietly, ”what are you going to do about us?”