Part 13 (1/2)
Only when his lips released her did she manage to say: ”I ... I must ... go ... p .. please ... do not ... stop me.”
”I would never do anything you did not wish,” he replied, ”but I want you, Aphrodite, G.o.d how much I want you!”
He would have taken her in his arms again but she put up her hands to stop him, feeling that he swept her along like a tidal wave and she would find it impossible not to do anything he asked of her.
”P .. please.... ” she pleaded.
The word came instinctively to her lips. She had not even thought that she must say it.
”Very well,” he agreed. ”I will let you go if you must, but you will be back tomorrow? Promise me, or I shall have to take you with me to London.”
”I ... I ... promise,” Astara managed to reply.
She had moved a little way from when he said: ”Come here!”
She turned her head irresolutely, afraid of his power over her, and yet longing to obey him.
”I .. I ... must ... go!”
”I told you to come here!”
She looked into his eyes and was lost.
Without meaning to, she was back in his arms and he was kissing her again, kissing her as if he was determined to take possession of her, to demand from her not only her body but her soul.
Only when she had ceased to think and there was only a wild rapture that made her want him to go on kissing her for ever did he let her go.
”Fast things first!” he said, and his voice was unsteady. ”I shall be counting the seconds, my little G.o.ddess, until to-morrow evening.”
Because she knew she dare not stay any longer Astara turned and ran from the room.
Only as she reached the outside door did she lean against it for a moment to catch her breath and force herself to realise that she was back on earth a human being with very human problems.
Astara started to come down the Grand Staircase the next morning and as she did so she saw that Sir Roderick was below in the Hall talking to Mr Barnes.
”Very well,” she heard him say, ”I will see those men to-morrow morning at nine o'clock. It will mean I shall have to ride later, but I suppose it is urgent?”
”They are very anxious, Sir Roderick, for you to pa.s.s the plans so that they can put the work in hand,” Mr Barnes replied.
”Very well,” Sir Roderick said. ”Nine o'clock, and tell them not to be late.”
He moved away towards the Dining-Room and Mr Barnes picking up his hat walked towards the front door.
He had just reached the steps outside when Astara had an idea.
”Mr Barnes!” she called and started to run down the stairs.
The Agent stopped and looked back at her. Then when he would have re-entered the house she joined him and walked outside ahead of him, into the suns.h.i.+ne.
When they were out of hearing of the footmen in attendance in the Hall, Astara said: ”I wonder, Mr Barnes, if you would do something for me?”
”Of course, Miss Beverley,” he replied. ”Anything that is within my capabilities.”
He smiled as he spoke and Astara knew that he admired her, for there was no mistaking the expression in his eyes.
”It is something which concerns Sir Roderick ...” she began.
She hesitated, then went on: ”I know, although he will not say so, that he is very upset that his nephew, Mr Vulcan, who lives in Little Milden has not been to see him.”
”I thought it rather strange myself,” Mr Barnes said, ”but then I believe Mr Vulcan is a law unto himself.”
”I have heard that, too,” Astara replied, ”and Captain Lionel tells me that it is well known he seldom answers letters if he bothers to open them!”
”Do you mean Sir Roderick wrote to him?” Mr Barnes asked.
”Yes, he wrote, ” Astara answered. ”But Mr Vulcan has not replied nor come to see his uncle. I can only surmise that he has in fact not read the letter.”
”Then what would you like me to do, Miss Beverley?” Mr Barnes enquired.
”I wonder,” Astara said choosing her words carefully, ”if without mentioning it to Sir Roderick you could go to see Mr Vulcan and tell him that his uncle is ... hurt by his behaviour and his ... negligence.”
She thought Mr Barnes looked uncomfortable as if he thought it was 'a difficult a.s.signment and went on quickly: ”I feel sure once he understands that Sir Roderick is getting old and is anxious to see him, he will call at Worfield House.”
”I am sure he would,” Mr Barnes agreed.
Astara thought that his tone did not sound over-confident but she smiled and said: ”Do try to persuade him to come to dinner to-night.”
”I will do my best, Miss Beverley,” Mr Barnes promised.
”That would be very kind of you,” Astara said, ”and please, do not mention me to Mr Vulcan or tell Sir Roderick that I said anything to you about his nephew. I would not like it to ... look as if I was ... interfering.”
”No, of course not. I understand,” Mr Barnes replied. Astara gave him a dazzling smile and went back into the house.
When breakfast was over and Sir Roderick informed them all that he would be ready to ride in a quarter-of-an-hour she slipped round to the stables.
Sam, the head-groom, who admired the way she rode, was always ready to do anything she asked of him.
Astara handed him a piece of paper which she had sealed with a wafer.
”I should be very grateful, Sam, if you would send the same groom who visited Mr Vulcan Worfield's house in Little Milden last week, with this note. Tell him to put it through the door as he did before.”
Sam took the piece of paper from her, Iooked at it in surprise, but being a well-trained servant said nothing.
”And please do not mention it to Sir Roderick,” Astara said, ”because if you do it will spoil a surprise.''
”OM say nothin' if ye asks Oi not to, Miss,” Sam replied.
”Thank you, Sam,” Astara said, ”and send the groom soon.”
”Oi'll do that, Miss, soon as ye've gone a-riding.”