Part 42 (1/2)
Terniloff shook hands heartily.
”I wanted to hear that from you,” he admitted. ”You I felt instinctively were different, but there are many men of our race who are willing enough to sacrifice a woman without the slightest scruple, either for their pa.s.sions or their policy. I find Lady Dominey charming.”
”She will never lack a protector in me,” Dominey declared.
There were more farewells and, soon after, the little procession of cars drove off. Rosamund herself was on the terrace, bidding all her guests farewell. She clung to Dominey's arm when at last they turned back into the empty hall.
”What dear people they were, Everard!” she exclaimed. ”I only wish that I had seen more of them. The d.u.c.h.ess was perfectly charming to me, and I never knew any one with such delightful manners as Prince Terniloff. Are you going to miss them very much, dear?”
”Not a bit,” he answered. ”I think I shall take a gun now and stroll down the meadows and across the rough ground. Will you come with me, or will you put on one of your pretty gowns and entertain me downstairs at luncheon? It is a very long time since we had a meal alone together.”
She shook her head a little sadly.
”We never have had,” she answered. ”You know that, Everard, and alas! I know it. But we are going on pretending, aren't we?”
He raised her fingers to his lips and kissed them.
”You shall pretend all that you like, dear Rosamund,” he promised, ”and I will be the shadow of your desires. No! No tears!” he added quickly, as she turned away. ”Remember there is nothing but happiness for you now. Whoever I am or am not, that is my one aim in life.”
She clutched at his hand pa.s.sionately, and suddenly, as though finding it insufficient, twined her arms around his neck and kissed him.
”Let me come with you,” she begged. ”I can't bear to let you go. I'll be very quiet. Will you wait ten minutes for me?”
”Of course,” he answered.
He strolled down towards the gun room, stood by the fire for a moment, and then wandered out into the courtyard, where Middleton and a couple of beaters were waiting for him with the dogs. He had scarcely taken a step towards them, however, when he stopped short. To his amazement Seaman was there, standing a little on one side, with his eyes fixed upon the windows of the servants' quarters.
”Hullo, my friend!” he exclaimed. ”Why, I thought you went by the early train from Thursford Station?”
”Missed it by two minutes,” Seaman replied with a glance towards the beaters. ”I knew all the cars were full for the eleven o'clock, so I thought I'd wait till the afternoon.”
”And where have you been to for the last few hours, then?”
Seaman had reached his side now and was out of earshot of the others.
”Trying to solve the mystery of Johann Wolff's sudden departure last night. Come and walk down the avenue with me a short way.”
”A very short distance, then. I am expecting Lady Dominey.”
They pa.s.sed through the thin iron gates and paced along one of the back entrances to the Hall.
”Do not think me indiscreet,” Seaman began. ”I returned without the knowledge of any one, and I kept out of the way until they had all gone.
It is what I told you before. Things which I do not understand depress me, and behold! I have found proof this morning of a further significance in Wolff's sudden departure.”
”Proceed,” Dominey begged.
”I learned this morning, entirely by accident, that Mr. Pelham's servant was either mistaken or willfully deceived me. Wolff did not accompany your butler to the station.”