Part 43 (1/2)
He bent down over her, as though looking at something in the letter.
”You know I'm not, sweetheart,” he said, ”that's why I want to find the Laws-to make you Queen the sooner.”
”Your Queen?”
”Mine-yes, either here in Valeria, or over the seas in old Hugo's land-as the Book decides for Lotzen or for me.”
”And do you honestly think, Armand, that he has the Book?”
”What do you think?” he asked.
”Women don't think-they have only intuition, and mine says that he has.”
”Then I shall go this night--”
”And I with you.”
”Then I won't go.”
”Nonsense, dear-why not? Dalberg Castle is always ready, and I shall take the Household, or part of it. I most a.s.suredly would not let you go alone, to be butchered by our dear and loving cousin.”
He knew it was useless to protest.
”Well, come along, little woman,” he said; ”and may be, together, we can devise a way for me to get the Book out of Lotzen Castle.”
She turned upon him, full faced and emphatic.
”But I'll not go, nor shall you,” she declared, ”unless you promise you won't do anything without consulting me. I'm going because you need some one to curb your recklessness; and I have no mind to see you throw your life away just because you won't take a dare.”
The Archduke gave her cheek a surrept.i.tious pinch.
”I promise,” he laughed; ”you're something of a Dalberg dare-devil yourself when the fever is on-and you're the finest little comrade and commander G.o.d ever made.”
Again she gave him the smile-and they went back to the others.
”Mr. Courtney,” said she, at once, ”we are about to spend a short while at Dalberg Castle, going to-night by special train, with a few members of the Household; it will be a great pleasure to Armand and me to have you with us.”
”I am honored,” said the Amba.s.sador, with a grave bow; ”I shall be glad to go.”
”Even if you do disapprove,” said she lightly-”but, what would you, monsieur! I don't want to imprison Armand, so the best thing I can do is to go along and try to take care of him; and that's where you can help me.”
”And that, Your Highness, is precisely the reason I'm going,” he answered;-”Warwick will stick to his work to the end.”
”The end!” she exclaimed, with sharp seriousness.
”In the great Cathedral yonder,” he answered.-And the Princess, thinking only of the coronation, smiled and glanced with proud faith at the Archduke.
But to the latter the real inference went home, and sharply.