Part 9 (1/2)
Lord Earle smiled again, evidently well pleased to hear that intelligence.
”A pleasant and sensible method of spending your time,” he continued; ”and, strange to say, it is on that very subject I wish to speak to you. Your attentions to Miss Charteris--”
”My attentions!” cried Ronald. ”You are mistaken. I have never paid any.”
”You need have no fear this time,” said Lord Earle. ”Your mother tells me of the numerous comments made last evening on your long tete-a-tete in the conservatory. I know some of your secrets. There can be no doubt that Miss Charteris has a great regard for you. I sent for you to say that, far from my again offering any opposition to your marriage, the dearest wish of my heart will be gratified when I call Valentine Charteris my daughter.”
He paused for a reply, but none came. Ronald's face had grown strangely pale.
”We never named our wish to you,” continued Lord Earle, ”but years ago your mother and I hoped you would some day love Miss Charteris. She is very beautiful; she is the truest, n.o.blest, the best woman I know. I am proud of your choice, Ronald--more proud than words can express.”
Still Ronald made no reply, and Lady Earle looked up at him quickly.
”You need not fear for Valentine,” she said. ”I must not betray any secrets; she likes you, Ronald; I will say no more. If you ask her to be your wife, I do not think you will ask in vain.”
”There is some great mistake,” said Ronald, his pale lips quivering.
”Miss Charteris has no thought for me.”
”She has no thought for any one else,” rejoined Lady Earle, quickly.
”And I,” continued Ronald, ”never dreamed of making her my wife. I do not love her. I can never marry Valentine Charteris.”
The smiles died from Lord Earle's face, and his wife dropped the pretty blossoms she was arranging.
”Then why have you paid the girl so much attention?” asked his father, gravely. ”Every one has remarked your manner; you never seemed happy away from her.”
”I wished to make her my friend,” said Ronald; ”I never thought of anything else.”
He stood aghast when he remembered why he had tried so hard to win her friends.h.i.+p. What if Valentine misunderstood him?
”Others thought for you,” said Lady Earle, dryly. ”Of course, if I am mistaken, there is no more to be said; I merely intended to say how happy such a marriage would make me. If you do not love the young lady the matter ends, I suppose.”
”Can you not love her, Ronald?” asked his mother, gently. ”She is so fair and good, so well fitted to be the future mistress of Earlescourt.
Can you not love her?”
”Nothing was further from my thoughts,” he replied.
”Surely,” interrupted Lady Earle, ”you have forgotten the idle, boyish folly that angered your father some time since--that can not be your reason?”
”Hush, mother,” said Ronald, standing erect and dauntless; ”I was coming to tell you my secret when you met me. Father, I deceived and disobeyed you. I followed Dora Thorne to Eastham, and married her there.”
A low cry came from Lady Earle's lips. Ronald saw his father's face grow white--livid--with anger; but no word broke the awful silence that fell upon them. Hours seemed to pa.s.s in the s.p.a.ce of a few minutes.
”You married her,” said Lord Earle, in a low, hoa.r.s.e voice, ”remembering what I said?”
”I married her,” replied Ronald, ”hoping you would retract hard, cruel words that you never meant. I could not help it, father; she has no one but me; they would have forced her to marry some one she did not like.”
”Enough,” interrupted Lord Earle. ”Tell me when and where. Let me understand whether the deed is irrevocable or not.”
Calmly, but with trembling lips, Ronald gave him every particular.