Part 21 (2/2)
”She is a poor relative of ours,” said the d.u.c.h.ess, ”poor, you understand--nothing else.”
”Then she is related to the duke?” he interrogated.
”Yes, distantly; and, after a fas.h.i.+on, we have adopted her. When she marries we shall give her a suitable dot. Her mother married unfortunately.”
”Still, she was married?” said Lord Arleigh.
”Yes, certainly; but unhappily married. Her daughter, however, has received a good education, and now she will remain with us. But, Norman, in this I may trust you, as in everything else?”
”You may trust me implicitly,” he replied.
”The duke did not quite like the idea of having her to live with us at first--and I do not wish it to be mentioned to him. If he speaks of it to you at all, it will be as my caprice. Let it pa.s.s--do not ask any questions about her; it only annoys her--it only annoys him. She is very happy with me. You see,” she continued, ”women can keep a secret. She has been here three weeks, yet you have never seen her before, and now it is by accident.”
”But,” said Norman, ”what do you intend to do with her?”
The d.u.c.h.ess took a seat near him, and a.s.sumed quite a confidential air.
”I have been for some time looking out for a companion,” she said; ”Lady Peters really must live at Verdun Royal--a housekeeper is not sufficient for that large establishment--it requires more than that. She has consented to make it her home, and I must have some one to be with me.”
”You have the duke,” he put in, wonderingly.
”True, and a husband most, perforce, be all that is adorable; still, having been accustomed to a lady-companion, I prefer keeping one; and this girl, so beautiful, so pure, so simple, is all that I need, or could wish for.”
”So I should imagine,” he replied. ”Will you introduce her into society, Philippa?”
”I think not; she is a simple child, yet wonderfully clever. No, society shall not have her. I will keep her for my own.”
”What is her name?” asked Lord Arleigh.
The d.u.c.h.ess laughed.
”Ah, now, man-like, you are growing curious! I shall not tell you. Yes, I will; it is the name above all others for an ideal--Madaline.”
”Madaline,” he repeated; ”it is very musical--Madaline.”
”It suits her,” said the d.u.c.h.ess; ”and now, Norman, I must go. I have some pressing engagements to-day.”
”You will not introduce me then, Philippa?”
”No--why should I? You would only disturb the child's dream.”
Chapter XVII.
Lord Arleigh could not rest for thinking of the vision he had seen; the face of the d.u.c.h.ess' companion haunted him as no other face had ever done. He tried hard to forget it, saying to himself that it was a fancy, a foolish imagination, a day-dream; he tried to believe that in a few days he should have forgotten it.
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