Part 5 (1/2)
”And you think he will obey?”
”I surely do. I cannot imagine a Dalberg dishonoring the Book of Laws.”
”I fear you do not know Ferdinand of Lotzen,” said Armand seriously. ”He intends to dispute the Succession. I have never told you how, long ago, he warned me what to expect if I undertook to 'filch the Crown,' as he put it. It was the afternoon he insulted me at headquarters-the Vierle Masque was in the evening.”
The Princess nodded eagerly. ”Yes,” said she, ”yes-I know-the time he wanted you to toss up a coin for me. What did he say?”
The Archduke reflected a moment. ”I can give you his exact words: 'Do you think,' he said, 'that I, who have been the Heir Presumptive since the instant of my birth, almost, will calmly step aside and permit you to take my place? Do you fancy for an instant that the people of Valeria would have a foreigner for King? And even if old Frederick were to become so infatuated with you that he would restore you to Hugo's place in the line of Succession, do you imagine that the House of n.o.bles would hesitate to annul it the instant he died?'”
When he had finished, Dehra's fingers were beating a tattoo on the chair's arm, and her eyes were snapping-as once or twice he had seen Frederick's snap.
”And I suppose you never told the King?” she exclaimed.
”Naturally not.”
”Of course, of course,” with a toss of the handsome head. ”That's a man's way-his silly, senseless way-never tell tales about a rival. And as a result, see what a mess you have made. Had you informed the King, he instantly would have proclaimed you as his heir, and then disgraced Lotzen publicly and sent him into exile. And you would now be his successor, without a shadow of opposition.”
Armand subdued a smile. ”You don't understand, Dehra--” he began.
”Quite right,” she cut in; ”quite right; I don't. Why didn't you tell me?
I would have told the King, you may be sure.”
”Of course you would, little woman; that's just the reason I didn't tell you.”
She shrugged her shoulders, and the tattoo began afresh.
”I've no patience with such nonsense,” she declared; ”Lotzen deserved no gentlemanly consideration; he would have shown none to you; and besides, it was your duty to your King and your House to uphold the Laws of the Dalbergs and to prevent any attempt to violate them.”
”I am very much afraid that lately, between Lotzen and myself, the Laws of the Dalbergs have been sadly slighted.”
His bantering jarred upon her. ”To me, Armand,” she answered gravely, ”our Laws are holy. For almost a thousand years they have been our unchallenged rule of governance. I can understand why, to you, they have no sacredness and no sentiment; but Lotzen has been born and bred under them, and should honor them with his life-and more especially as they alone made him the Heir Presumptive. But for the decree of the first Dalberg King, four hundred years ago, I would be the Queen-Regent of Valeria.”
”It's a pity, a crying pity!” he exclaimed.
She looked down at him with s.h.i.+ning eyes. ”No, dear, it isn't; once I thought it was; but now I'm quite content to be Queen-consort.”
He took both her hands and held them between his own. ”That, dear, is what makes it possible, and worth the struggle; and if Valeria does accept me as its King, it will be solely for love of you, and to get you for its Queen.”
A smile of satisfaction crossed her face. ”I hope the people do love me,”
she said. ”I would like to feel I may have helped you, even a little.”
”A little! but for you, my princess, I'd go back to America and leave the way clear for Lotzen.”
She laughed softly. ”No, no, Armand, you would do nothing of the sort. A Dalberg never ran from duty-and least of all the Dalberg whom G.o.d has made in the image of the greatest of them all.”
He glanced in the tall mirror across the room. He was wearing the dress uniform of the Red Huzzars (who had been inspected immediately before the Foot Guards; and he, as t.i.tular Colonel, had led them in the march by), and there was no denying he made a handsome figure, in the brilliant tunic and black, fur-bound dohlman, his Orders sparkling, his sword across his knees.
She put her head close beside his and smiled at him in the mirror.