Part 48 (1/2)

”And your verdict was?” he raised amused eyebrows.

She looked demure.

”By Your Grace's words just now, I conclude that I have succeeded.”

”Only by my words just now? I thought we had had a rather pleasant and interesting hour of conversation as fellow-guests.”

”Yes--You are not shocked, then, when I tell you that I am not really a lady?”

”No. The counterfeit presentment is so very perfect, one would like to hear the details of the pa.s.sage to its achievement.”

Then she told him in as few and as simple words as she could--just the truth. Of her parentage, of her home at Bindon's Green--of Liv and Dev's, of her ideals, and her self-education, and of her coming to Lady Garribardine's.

Mordryn listened with rapt attention, his gaze fixed upon her face--he made brief e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.ns at times, but did not otherwise interrupt her.

”You can understand now how entertained I was at the things which you said to me that night, can you not?”

Thus she ended her story, and the Duke rose and sat down upon the edge of the table quite close to her; he was visibly moved.

”You extraordinary girl. You have upset every theory I ever held. I shall go away now and think over all you have said--Meanwhile, I feel that this is the only way in which I can show my homage,” and he took her hand with infinite respect and kissed it.

Then he removed his tall form from the table and quietly left the room.

And when she was alone, Katherine gently touched the spot where his lips had pressed; there was a quite unknown emotion running through her.

She found it very difficult to go on with her work after this, and made a couple of mistakes, to her great annoyance. Nearly an hour pa.s.sed. She got up from her typing, and after changing her blouse, went down to tea, her thoughts not nearly so calm as usual.

Was her friends.h.i.+p with this man finished? Had her frankness overreached itself? Just what did that kiss mean? Here was a character not so easy to read as Gerard Strobridge's. Here was a will perhaps as strong as her own. Her face was very pale, and those concentrated grey-green eyes looked stormy and resentful.

The Duke reached the smoking-room and was seated at the writing-table only one moment before the room was invaded by Lady Garribardine.

”Poor Mordryn! You had to take refuge here! I fear those charming creatures I have invited for you are proving a little fatiguing.”

”Frankly, Seraphim, they bore me to death.”

”Two others are coming of a different type presently. But you are safe in this corner. Most of them do not know I have moved the smoking-room to this wing.”

”I think it is a great improvement.”

Her Ladys.h.i.+p looked at him out of the tail of her eye, but she said, quite innocently:

”Yes, Gerard always says so.” Then she left him to his letters, with a word as to tea and a cosy talk in her boudoir after it.

So Gerard liked this room, too! Miss Bush was with him at the House. She dined at Brook Street. Then Mordryn frowned and looked the very image of the Iron Duke, and did not even begin to write an order which he had intended to send his agent. His mind was disturbed. Every word Katherine had said had made a deep impression upon him.

The father an auctioneer--the grandfather a butcher! And this girl a peerless creature fit for a throne! But if she were fit for heaven, there were still quite insurmountable barriers between even ordinary acquaintance with her. He rather thought he would leave Blissington on Sunday night.

Then he frowned again. Gerard Strobridge was a charming fellow. Seraphim adored him--he was often here--he liked the smoking-room! Somehow the conversation must be turned, when he was alone with his friend presently, to the subject of Gerard.