Part 17 (2/2)

She told herself that perhaps when Sir Roderick realised the high-handed way William had behaved he would not be so obsessed with his favourite nephew.

Then she remembered how delighted Sir Roderick had been to see Vulcan the previous evening.

She could still remember her surprise when he had seemed to know everything that Vulcan had done and had been, she was sure, proud of his courage and daring in reaching Mecca and Harrar.

The mere thought of Vulcan brought back the agony within her breast and she told herself sharply that she would not think of him.

”Where are we going?” she asked William. ”And how soon will we be there?”

”I am taking you to lunch to 'The Kind Dragon',” he .answered. 'It is an Inn built on a lake near a village called Elstree. In the summer I often drive out there in the evenings for dinner.” - Astara realised that William was determined to take her to 'The Kind Dragon' and there seemed to be no point in arguing any further. She therefore relapsed into silence until about thirty minutes later when William exclaimed ”Here is the lake: Now you will see that I have not exaggerated its attractions.”

They had fumed off the main highway, and were making their way along a narrow road bordered by trees which ran beside a long lake, which appeared to be in the centre of a forest.

The sun was s.h.i.+ning on it .and there were a number of wild ducks and other birds which rose at their approach.

The road extended along one side of the lake until at the far end Astara could see an ancient Inn with a sloping roof built on the very edge of the water.

”There is 'The Kind Dragon' !” William said pointing with his whip.

”It is certainly very picturesque, ” Astaras replied.

She thought it was very high-handed of him to have brought her here without asking her fast if it was something she wished to do.

But she realised that while she had been thinking of Vulcan they had driven far further than she had expected and now it was ,too late to return in .time for luncheon.

She could only hope that William had given Sir Roderick a plausible explanation in the note he had left on his desk.

They drew up outside the Inn which was very old and painted black and white which reminded Astara of the way that Vulcan had painted the Mill.

The ostlers ran to the horses' heads as William alighted first from the Phaeton to help Astara to the ground.

”I expect you would like to wash and tidy yourself before luncheon,” he said. ”I will order abed-room for you and as we have a private parlour to ourselves you can take off your bonnet and be comfortable.”

”Thank you,” Astara murmured.

She walked up a narrow oak staircase and a mob-capped Chambermaid showed her into an attractive room with a bow window that overlooked the lake.

Astara stood for a moment staring at-the suns.h.i.+ne on the water.

Irrepressibly it came to her mind that if she were here with Vulcan everything would vibrate with happiness.

Instead she could only tell herself she must behave sensibly so that William would not realise that anything was wrong.

She could not allow him to know how she was suffering or that Vulcan had come into her life and left it a barren desert.

She had .heard the way he spoke to his cousin last night and she had seen what she thought was a look of contempt in his eyes.

She knew it would be impossible for William ever to understand that Vulcans standards and ideals were very different from his.

With a start she realised she had been staring out of the window at the lake and had made no effort to get ready for luncheon.

She took off her bonnet, looked at herself in the mirror and wondered why her face was not lined with suffering and changed beyond recognition.

The maid had poured some hot water into a china basin and she washed her hands, then walked down the stairs.

The Landlord was waiting at the foot of them and led her down a narrow heavily beamed pa.s.sage to open the door at the end of it.

The private parlour was small, panelled with ancient oak, and the table for luncheon was set beside a window through which Astara could see a well-tended garden.

”I hope you are hungry,” William said. ”I have ordered what I am sure you will find a delicious meal.”

Astara thought it would be impossible for her to force even a mouthful of food down her throat, but aloud she said : ”This seems a very luxurious place to be out in the wilds.”

”I told you that I come here sometimes in the summer,” William said, ”and it is in the Season a fas.h.i.+onable haunt of the Bucks of St James's.”

Astara suspected that the women they brought to 'The Kind Dragon' were of a different status from herself, and she thought that in a way William was being insulting in bringing her here unchaperoned.

But there was no point in saying so and as the Landlord came bustling in with their luncheon she sat down at the table.

The food was excellent and William was apparently satisfied with the wine.

Astara ate very little, but he did full justice to the many courses and she- had the feeling that he was deliberately prolonging the meal.

When at last he sat back in his chair with a gla.s.s of brandy in his hand and the servants withdrew from the room Astara said: ”We must be getting back. I am sure already Uncle Roderick will be very annoyed with us.”

William put his gla.s.s of brandy down on the table before he said: ”We are not going back!”

Astara thought she could not have heard him correctly. ”What did you say?” she asked.

”I said we are not going back - not until to-morrow, at any rate. ”

”W... what ... are you... saying?”

”This may come as somewhat of a surprise to you, Astara, ” William replied, ”but we are being married in an hour's time!”

Astara stared at him across the table.

”Are you mad?”

”On the contrary, I am extremely sane, ” he replied. ”You have played with me quite long enough, Astara, and as apparently you cannot make up your own mind I am making it up for you !”

”If you really think I am willing to marry you, you are very much mistaken!” Astara cried.

”You have no choice in the matter!”

She drew in her breath, but her voice was quite steady as she asked: ”What do you ... mean by that?”

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