Part 9 (2/2)
”I hear from Miss Grayle that we are namesakes,” Mr. Ruthven Smith said, as ”Nelson Smith” sprang in and took the girl's bag from her ice-cold hand.
”I--he asked me ... I told him,” Annesley stammered, her eyes appealing, seeking to explain, and begging pardon. ”But if----”
”Quite right. Why _not_ tell?” he answered instantly, his first glance of surprise turning to cheerful rea.s.surance. ”Now Mrs. Ellsworth is eliminated, I'm no longer a secret. And I expect you'll like to meet Mr.
Ruthven Smith again when you have a house to entertain him in.”
So speaking, he offered his hand with a smile to his ”namesake”; and Annesley realized from the outsider's point of view the peculiar attraction of the man. Ruthven Smith felt it, as she had felt it, though differently and in a lesser degree. Not only did he shake hands, but actually came out to the taxi with them, asking Annesley if he should tell his cousins of her engagement, or if she preferred to give the news herself?
It flashed into the girl's mind that it would be perfect if she could be married to her knight by Archdeacon Smith; but she had been imprudent too often already. She dared not make such a suggestion without consulting the other person most concerned, so she answered that she would write Mrs. Smith or see her.
”To say that you, too, are going to be Mrs. Smith!” chuckled the Archdeacon's cousin in his dry way, which made him seem even older than he was. ”Well, you can trust me with Mrs. Ellsworth. If she goes on as she began to-night, I'm afraid I shall have to follow your example: 'fold my tent like an Arab, and silently steal away.' Ha, ha! By the by, I dare say she's owing you salary. I'll remind her of it if you like--tell her you asked me. It may help with the trousseau.”
”Thank you, but my wife won't need to remind Mrs. Ellsworth of her debt,”
the answer came before Annesley could speak. ”And she _will_ be my wife in a day or two at latest. Good-night! Glad to have met you, even if it was an unpromising introduction.”
Then they were off, they two alone together; and Annesley guessed that the chauffeur must have had his instructions where to drive, as she heard none given. Perhaps it was best that their destination should not be published aloud, for there are walls which have ears. It occurred to the girl that precautions might still have to be taken. But in another moment she was undeceived.
”I thought old Ruthven Smith would be shocked if he knew the 'safe refuge' I have for you is no more convent-like than the Savoy Hotel,” her companion laughed. ”By Jove, neither you nor I dreamed when we got out of the last taxi that we should soon be in another, going back to the place we started from!”
”The Savoy!” exclaimed Annesley. ”Oh, but we mustn't go there, of all places! Those men----”
”I a.s.sure you it's safer now than anywhere in London!” the man cut her short. ”I can't explain why--that is, I _could_ explain if I cared to rig up a story. But there's something about you makes me feel as if I'd like to tell you the truth whenever I can: and the truth is, that for reasons you may understand some day--though I hope to Heaven you'll never have to!--my a.s.sociation with those men is one of the things I long to turn the key upon. I know that that sounds like Bluebeard to Fatima, but it isn't as bad as _that_. To me, it doesn't seem bad at all. And I swear that whatever mystery--if you call it 'mystery'--there is about me, it sha'n't hurt you. Will you believe this--and trust me for the rest?”
”I've told you I would!” the girl reminded him.
”I know. But things were different then--not so serious. They hadn't gone so far. I didn't suppose that Fate would give you to me so soon. I didn't dare hope it. I----”
”Are you _sure_ you want me?” Annesley faltered.
”Surer than I've ever been of anything in my life before. It's only of you I'm thinking. I wanted to arrange my--business matters so as to be fair to you. But you'll make the best of things.”
”You are being n.o.ble to me,” said the girl, ”and I've been very foolish.
I've complicated everything. First, by what I told Mr. Ruthven Smith about--about _us_. And then--saying your name was Nelson Smith.”
”You weren't foolis.h.!.+” he contradicted. ”You were only--playing into Fate's hands. You couldn't help yourself. Destiny! And all's for the best. You were an angel to sacrifice yourself to save me, and your doing it the way you did has made me a happy man at one stroke. As for the name--what's in a name? We might as well be in reality what we played at being to-night--'Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Smith.' There are even reasons why I'm pleased that you've made me a present of the name. I thank you for it--and for all the rest.”
”Oh, but if it isn't _really_ your name, we sha'n't be legally married, shall we?” Annesley protested.
”By Jove!” he exclaimed. ”I hadn't thought of that. It's a difficulty.
But we'll obviate it--somehow. Don't worry! Only I'm afraid we can't ask your friend the Archdeacon to marry us, as I meant to suggest, because I was sure you'd like it.”
”I should. But it doesn't matter,” said the girl. ”Besides, I feel that to-morrow I shall find I've dreamed--all this.”
”Then I've dreamed you, at the same time, and I'm not going to let you slip out of my dream, now I've got you in it. I intend to go on dreaming you for the rest of my life. And I shall take care _you_ don't wake up!”
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