Part 28 (1/2)
She did not answer. He bent nearer. Her eyes did not s.h.i.+ft from his, she saw that he was going to kiss her, but she did not move. If the whole world had come cras.h.i.+ng down upon her, she could not have made the slightest effort to escape.
He pressed his lips against hers. She did not return his kiss, but she did not protest. He slipped his arm around her waist and drew her up.
Still she made no objection. He held her more closely, kissing her again and again. She remained impa.s.sive, unable to summon sufficient willpower to resist. Besides, had she not decided to be this man's wife?
He was pouring into her ears short, whispered words of endearment, giving his love free rein.
”Claire--Claire,” he whispered pa.s.sionately, ”you do love me! Say you love me!”
”Oh, must I say that?” she asked languidly.
He laid her head back on the pillow tenderly.
”Why shouldn't you?” he demanded. ”You do, or you wouldn't let me act this way. Oh, Claire, isn't that true?”
”Doesn't your own heart tell you, Philip?” She could not lie easily.
”Yes, of course. I just wanted to hear you say it, dear.”
”Why?”
”Because--because it means so much to me.”
”How does it mean any more than my unresisting lips?” She wanted to be fair to Philip. Would he want a wife without love?
He looked at her, puzzled by her calm question.
”Because, dear, it would mean that you put your seal on our divine betrothal.”
”I gave you my lips, you held me in your arms, doesn't that mean love to you?”
”Claire, why do you talk that way?”
”Why shouldn't I? Isn't it true?”
”Yes, but you--you seem so unlike the woman you are.”
”Oh, I see. But you haven't told me fully why you wanted me to say I loved you.”
He stood up nervously and moved a few paces away, but the patient, self-reproachful gaze in Claire's eyes brought him back again.
”Why talk of that at all, dearest?” he whispered. ”We have each other.
Isn't that enough?”
”Perhaps not. You asked me to say it, you know.”
”Yes, but I don't care. I won't plague you. I know you do love, me.” He kissed her again and then looked at her. Her lips had been cold.
”What is the matter, Claire? Don't you love me? Is that why you wouldn't give me your word?”
It was coming at last. How could she make Philip see, and yet be fair to him, too?