Текст книги "Lion Triumphant"

Автор книги: Philippa Carr

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Текущая страница: 4 (всего у книги 24 страниц)

“Those poor creatures who serve you may. They, poor souls, are at your mercy.”

“And you think you are not?”

“I have had enough of this folly.”

“And I could never have enough.” He came toward me and put his arms about me, pinioning mine so that I was caught in a firm grip.

“Captain Pennlyon, there is no doubt that you are mad. Do you realize that my family will never forgive this insult?”

He laughed. I noticed that his eyes were tilted slightly at the corners and that his eyebrows followed the upward tilt; this gave him an expression that was puckish and satanic at the same time. I tried to prize myself free.

“Let me go,” I cried and tried to kick his shins; but he held me in such a way that it was impossible for me to do so. I thought, he has held many women thus and I pictured his raiding far-off hamlets and villages and the manner in which he and his men would treat the women they captured.

“You can’t escape,” he mocked, “so it’s no use trying. You are at my mercy.”

“Well, what do you want of me?”

“Surely you know that.”

“If I am right in my assumption…”

“Which I am sure you are…”

“I will tell you that I consider your manners gross; I find you boorish, quite unlike—”

“The fancy gentlemen whom it has been your ill fortune to meet in the past. Well, now, my girl, you have met a man who finds you to his liking and in spite of his lack of manners you find him irresistible.”

Then he took his arms from about me and caught my head; he pulled it back and his mouth was on mine … warm, revolting, I told myself firmly. I tried to protest, but it was useless. I could not escape from this fierce embrace.

When he at last released me I was shaking—with fury, I again reminded myself.

I said: “How dare you behave in such a way … I have never…”

“Of course you have never been kissed like that before. But don’t fret. It will not be the last time.”

I was beginning to be alarmed. I was on his ship alone. I had been tricked. There were men on board, but they were his slaves.

He guessed my thoughts.

“Exciting, eh? You are at my mercy. You can’t get away unless it is my wish that you should.”

I could only repeat: “You would not dare to touch me.”

“Now that I know that your eagerness matches my own … but I, being honest, make no secret of my desires while you, being deceitful, hide yours, feigning reluctance.”

“I never heard such nonsense! You are a loathsome, ill-mannered pirate and I hate you.”

“You protest too strongly,” he said.

“You will be hanged for this. My family…”

“Oh, yes,” he said, “you are a girl of good family. This is a matter which we have taken into consideration.”

“Who has taken it into consideration?”

“My father and I, and for what purpose you must be aware.”

“I refuse to discuss this unpleasant subject.”

“It is a fascinating subject. My father said to me: ‘It’s time you married, Jake. We want more Pennlyons. That girl will be a good breeder. Time you took her to bed. But make it legal this time. I want grandchildren.’”

“I refuse to stay here to be insulted. You must look elsewhere for your good breeder.”

“Why should I when I’ve found her?”

“I believe it would be necessary to get her consent.”

“That will not be impossible.”

“Are you under the illusion that you are one of the gods come down from Olympus?”

“That may be an illusion others have about me. I know myself for a man who is clear as to what he wants and gets it.”

“Not always,” I reminded him. “Not if I am included in those desires.”

“There are ways. Do you want me to make this plain to you?”

His face was close to me and I felt my throat constrict. I wished my heart would not beat so loudly. It might betray my fear or whatever it was he aroused in me.

“You are revolting. If you do not let me go at once I can promise you that my family will bring you to the courts for this.”

“Oh, that good family,” he said. “Now, my fine lady, there is nothing insulting about an offer of marriage.”

“There is when it comes from you.”

“Don’t goad me too far, I have the devil of a temper.”

“And let me tell you that so have I.”

“I knew we were well matched. What boys we’ll have. Let’s begin … now. The marriage vows will come after.”

“I have told you you must look elsewhere for your breeder.”

“I have found her and I have sworn to God that you will bear my sons.”

I said: “Stand back and open that door.”

“On condition.”

“What condition?”

“That you give your word to marry me … without delay, and that you’ll be with child before I sail.”

“And if I won’t?”

“You give me no alternative.”

I was silent and with a rough gesture he threw me onto his bunk. I stared at him in horror as he deliberately removed his coat.

I got to my feet. He was laughing at me. “You should understand, my precious virgin … at least I suppose you are a virgin. You are. I can spot ’em. It is something in the eyes.”

“You insult me.”

“In truth I honor you. I choose only those who are worthy of my manhood.”

I said: “Do you really mean that if I don’t promise to marry you you will force me as though I am some … some…”

He nodded. “Some wench of no consequence. Though, mind you, there have been fine ladies on occasion. It is no use looking at me with those great disbelieving eyes. You know I am a man of my word. Did I not promise you that I would have you on my ship within the week? Now what’s it to be? I’ve told you already sailors have no time to waste.”

“Let me out of here. You tricked me. I only came because…”

“Because you wanted to.”

“It is the last thing I wanted.”

“Don’t you believe it. I know you better than you know yourself.”

“Jennet told me…”

“Now don’t blame the girl. She knew when she must do as she’s told.”

“Jennet!” I said. “Did she know that I was being tricked?”

“Tricked! My dear girl, I was giving you an excuse for coming here. I’m not noted for my patience.”

“I must get out of here,” I said.

“That is your answer.” Deliberately he put on his coat.

He opened the door; he led the way down a flight of stairs. Jennet was waiting there.

I went to her and said, “You lied, Jennet. You told me Mistress Ennis was here. You knew full well she was not.”

“Mistress Catharine, I … I…” She looked beyond me to Jake Pennlyon.

“You slut!” I said, and imagined the way he would look at her and lay his hands on her. No need to make her fine promises; she would be willing and eager. I knew Jennet and to my shame I had discovered that potent power in him.

Jake Pennlyon laughed, low and mocking.

“Row me ashore at once,” I said.

I was trembling as we descended the ladder. I did not look back.

As we were rowed back Jennet sat with her head lowered, her hands visibly trembling. As soon as I was helped ashore I walked ahead of her back to Trewynd.

When I was in my room I was so angry that I had to vent my wrath on someone. I sent for Jennet.

She came trembling.

I had always before been rather mild with servants; Honey was far more haughty with them than I ever was; but I could not get out of my mind the thought of that man’s mocking eyes and I wanted to hurt somebody; and this girl who was supposed to be my faithful maid had betrayed me.

I turned on her and cried, “Now then, girl. You had better give an account of yourself.”

Jennet began to cry.

I took her by the shoulders and shook her. Then she stammered: “I meant no harm, Mistress. The gentleman he asked me … he talked to me like…”

“Like,” I mimicked. “Like what?”

“Well, he talked kind like and said I looked a good maiden…”

“And he kissed you and fondled you as no man should a virgin girl.”

I saw by the quick color which flooded her face that this was so; and I slapped her. It was not poor Jennet’s face I was slapping: it was his. I hated him so much, because he had tricked me, because he had tried to treat me in the same way as he had Jennet.

“You lied to me. You told me Mistress Ennis was on the Rampant Lion. You are supposed to be my servant and you forget that because this libertine kissed you.”

Jennet sank to the floor, covered her face with her hand and burst into loud blubbering sobs. A voice from the door said: “Catharine, what has happened to you?”

Honey was standing there, serene and beautiful.

I said nothing and she came into the room and looked down at the weeping Jennet.

“Why, Catharine, you used to be so good to the servants.”

Those words spoken in that manner reminded me so much of my mother that the madness of my fury passed away suddenly and I felt very ashamed of myself, of the ease with which I had been tricked and my uncontrollable anger against poor silly little Jennet.

I said to Jennet: “You can go now.”

She hastily got up and fled.

“What was all that about?” asked Honey in a bewildered voice.

“It’s that man. The Pennlyon man.” I told her what had happened.

Honey laughed. “You should have known I wouldn’t have gone to the ship alone. How could you have been so stupid as to think I would?”

“I was surprised.”

“Yet you believed it! Do you think he has such a fatal fascination for all women?”

“Jennet found him irresistible.”

“Jennet is a lusting virgin. She’ll be the victim of the first philanderer who crosses her path.”

“You think she has already been his victim?”

“That would not surprise me. But you have a high opinion of his irresistibility if you think I would have gone visiting him alone.”

“I’m sorry. It was foolish of me. I’ve no one but myself to blame.”

“Well, at least you escaped unscathed. It will teach you to be wary of him in future.”

“I shall never see him again if I can help it. As for Jennet she sickens me. I shall have one of the others for my maid. Perhaps she could go into the kitchen.”

“As you will. Take Luce. She is a girl who will cause you no anxieties and offer little provocation to any man.”

“I have not told you,” I said, “how I escaped.”

“Well?”

“He said either I gave him my promise to marry him or he would take me there and then.”

“What company you get into,” mocked Honey.

“In your house,” I reminded her.

“Ah, but he was already an acquaintance of yours before he came here.” She must have noticed how perturbed I was because she went on soothingly: “Whatever has happened to you! He can’t force you to marry him and he wouldn’t dare harm you—a neighbor’s daughter and a member of our family. Why, the courts would hang him. That was just bravado.”

“I’ve heard this called Pennlyon country.”

“Don’t believe all you hear. Edward has some power in this land, you know. Our estates are bigger than those of the Pennlyons and we’ve been here longer. Who are they but upstarts from across the Tamar?”

“You are comforting, Honey.”

“I’m glad. Now let me tell you my news. I am going to have a child.”

“Honey!” I went to her and kissed her. “That’s wonderful! And you’re happy. I can see you are. You’ve changed. You’ve got that maternal serenity. Mother will be delighted. She’ll want you to go back to her for the birth. Yes, you must. She and Grandmother will coo over you. They won’t trust anyone to look after you. And is Edward pleased?”

“Edward is delighted and I don’t intend to disappoint him this time.” She was referring to the miscarriage she had had in the first year of her marriage.

“We must take the utmost care,” I said; and I forgot the unpleasant incident on the ship in my excitement about the baby.

I was not allowed to forget for long.

That day Thomas Elders rode over. When he came he stayed the night, heard Mass in the chapel the following day and then probably stayed another night before going off to the next Catholic household.

He did not come as a priest but as a friend of Edward’s; he supped with us and conversation at the table was never of religious matters. The next day Mass was celebrated and those trusted servants who wished to attend did so. The others were quite unaware of what was going on. The chapel was always kept locked so that the fact that it should be so during the hearing of Mass raised no comment.

I, of course, did not attend, although I was aware of what was going on, and remembering the past so well and the anxieties my mother had suffered, I was always uneasy when Thomas Elders was in the house.

I went out riding in the morning. The excitement of Honey’s news had subsided and I kept thinking of those shameful moments in the Captain’s cabin on the Rampant Lion. I returned from my ride and took Marigold to the stables. The new young man, Richard Rackell, took her from me.

I said: “I think she’s losing a shoe, Richard.”

He nodded. He had deeply set, expressive eyes and was quite handsome. He bowed and the gesture would have graced a Court.

I asked: “Are you getting along well?”

He replied that he thought he was giving satisfaction.

“I know it is not the kind of work to which you are accustomed.”

“I become accustomed, Mistress,” he replied.

He interested me. There was something rather mysterious about him. I remember that Jake Pennlyon had been suspicious that he came from the North. Then I forgot Richard Rackell for my angry thoughts were back with that man who never seemed to be out of my mind for very long.

My way to the house led around by the chapel. Mass would either be in progress or over by now.

My heart leaped in sudden terror, for the small door which led to the leper’s squint opened suddenly and Jake Pennlyon emerged. I immediately thought: Through the leper’s squint one can look into the chapel!

There was a fierce glint in his eyes the second or so before they alighted on me. Then they were bright with that intense blue fire.

“Well met, Mistress,” he said, and came toward me. He would have embraced me, but I stepped hurriedly back and he allowed me to do so while implying that he was respecting my objections and could comfortably have ignored them.

“What are you doing here?”

“What should I be doing but calling on my betrothed?”

“And who is this … Jennet, the maid, who I believe has caught your fancy?”

“A serving wench, be she maid or harlot, could not be my betrothed. She whom I have chosen to honor now stands before me.”

“She whom you attempted to dishonor, you mean.” I turned away, but he was beside me.

He gripped my arm so that it hurt.

“Know this,” he said. “My father is now at the house. I came to look for you. He is planning the celebrations for our betrothal. I had of course acquainted him with your acceptance of my proposal. He wishes to make it a grand occasion. He has invited half the neighborhood.”

“Then,” I cried, “he will have to cancel the invitations.”

“On what grounds?”

“That there is no betrothal. How could there be without the consent of the intended bride?”

“But that has already been given.” He looked at me in mock reproach. “You have so soon forgotten visiting me in my cabin. Surely you would not have come there if there had not been an understanding between us?”

“You tricked me.”

“You are not going to tell me again that you did not come with the utmost willingness?” He had raised his eyebrows in mock seriousness.

I cried: “I hate you!”

“Well, that is a good start,” he said.

I tried to release my arm, but he would not let me go.

“What do you propose to do?” he asked.

“Go and tell your father that he should cancel his invitations without delay.”

“He’ll not do that.”

“Then you must find another bride.”

“I have found the one I want. She is here now.”

I looked around. “I do not see her.”

“Why feign reluctance when you are eager? There is no need to. Let us have done with such insincerities. Let us be truthful to each other.” He drew me close to him and held me so tightly that I felt my bones would break. My rage overcame all other feelings.

I kicked him; but he laughed. He held me just to show how puny were my efforts to escape.

I attempted with words what I could not do with physical strength.

“Your buccaneering methods may be effective on the high seas. They will avail you nothing in a gentleman’s household.”

“Wrong again, my wildcat. They will bring me what I want and at the moment I want you. I’d have had you ere this, but it must be legal this time. Our son will be born in wedlock. Not that I’ll brook delay. But we’ll wed first and bed after.”

“Even your wife would have to make her vows of her own volition, I suppose. How will you achieve that?”

“There are ways,” he said.

“You have chosen unwisely if you expect obedience from me.”

“I have chosen as I must and I shall have your obedience. I shall tame my wildcat so that she will purr for my caresses.”

“Your metaphors are clumsy, like everything else you do.”

“Listen to me,” he said. “You will come and meet my father. You will smile and tell him you are pleased to have been honored by us.”

“You joke.”

“I am serious. You have given me your promise and, by God, you will keep it.”

“You will make me do that?”

“I will. Do not be foolish, Mistress Catharine. It could go ill with you if I were to tell what I have this day seen through the leper’s squint.”

I turned pale and the triumph leaped into his eyes.

“I have long suspected,” he said. “I would not answer for what should happen if my father knew,”

“Even though his future daughter-in-law were involved?”

“You’re not a Papist. I know that well enough. If you were I’d beat the Popery out of you.”

“What a nice kind husband you will be.”

“So you have accepted that I shall be your husband.”

“You don’t let me finish. I was going to say … to the poor simpleton who is misguided enough to marry you.”

“That will be no simpleton. It will be a wise woman. Catharine, no less, for no one else will do. I have sworn to have her and I do not swear in vain.”

“And if I refuse?”

“How can you bring disaster to this house?”

“You would not be so cruel.”

“I would be anything to get what I want.”

“I hate you as I never thought it possible to hate anyone.”

“While your eyes flash for me I’m happy enough. I will wait a week or so … no more. So come with me now. You will meet my father. You will smile and behave as though this match between us is a delight to you.”

“How could I be so false?”

“Either be false or the betrayer of this household.”

“Does that mean that you would harm them?”

“I mean every word of it.”

“First attempted rape. Then blackmail.”

“That is just a beginning,” he said with a laugh.

I was beaten. I knew it. How foolish they were to have the priest here. Why hadn’t they thought of the leper’s squint? They locked the door to the chapel and forgot the one which led to the room in which those who looked through the squint assembled.

As I walked across the lawn with him beside me I was thinking: The betrothal then … and no more. I shall think of a way out. I will go back to my mother. Honey will have to help me. After all, she and Edward have brought me to this.

Sir Penn was sprawling in the big chair with the carved wooden back. He chuckled when I entered the hall with Jake. Honey and Edward were not there. I wondered whether they were still in the chapel.

Sir Penn hoisted himself out of the chair and came toward me; he put his arms about me and kissed me hard on the mouth. I felt bruised where his lips had touched me.

“Well,” he said, “my son never was one to waste time. You’re getting a bargain there, my girl. I can vouch for him.”

He thrust his elbow into Jake’s ribs and Jake laughed.

“No need to tell her that, Father,” he said. “She’s no foolish virgin.”

They laughed together, obscenely, I thought. Jake put his arm over my shoulder; I felt his fingers pressing my flesh.

“We’ll have the wedding shortly following the betrothal. There’s no sense in waiting. We want you to give us a little Pennlyon without delay.”

I wanted to cry out: I shall never marry this man. I’d rather burn at the stake.

But it was precisely because I feared what would happen to us all since this ruthless man knew what had taken place in the chapel this morning that I was allowing them to assume that I had accepted Jake Pennlyon’s proposal.

Honey appeared then—without her usual serenity. Her face was flushed, her manner uncertain. One of the servants must have told her that the Pennlyons were here and she would be thinking of the necessity to guard Thomas Elders from such men as these.

“Good day and welcome,” she said. “So Catharine is here. I have just heard that you had arrived. You will take some wine?” She went to the bell rope.

Edward came in and greeted the visitors.

“A happy occasion,” shouted Sir Penn. “These young people… Well, I have lost no time. There’s never time to waste. We’re celebrating the betrothal at Lyon Court and then we’ll follow with the wedding. They’re impatient, these two, and I can’t say I blame them. I don’t blame them at all.”

Honey was looking at me fixedly. She was waiting for me to protest.

I opened my mouth to say it was all a mistake and that I had no intention of marrying when I caught Jake’s eye—mocking, warning, cruelly relentless. I thought: He would betray them. He would have no compunction. He is without mercy.

Then I remembered my mother’s telling me as she had on one occasion of how the father she adored had been a prisoner in the Tower and how one day he had been taken to the block and his head placed on London Bridge. I knew that never could she escape from the memory of that time; it had shadowed all her happiness. I had lost Carey and I believed I could never be completely happy again; and if I should be the one to betray Honey how could I face my mother or forgive myself?

A sudden exhilaration came to me. I would outwit this man who had so shortly come into my life and dominated it. I would let him believe that he had won, but he never should. At the moment I must agree to this betrothal because to fail to do so would endanger Honey and Edward. His victory should be only a brief one. If Jake Pennlyon thought I had so easily succumbed he was going to find his mistake.

He took my hand and held it tightly. His grip was a warning in itself. I could break your fingers if I wished; and I will as easily break your spirit.

“Why, Catharine,” said Honey, “may I indeed congratulate the pair of you?”

“This is a time for congratulations,” said Jake. “We want a speedy wedding.”

Honey put her fragrant cheek against mine, her eye inquiring.

“So you have decided, Catharine?” she said. “Why, it is but a short time that you were declaring you would never marry.”

“My son has that in him to break down the resistance of the most retiring damsel.”

“It seems so.”

The wine and cakes were brought in.

Edward poured the wine and gave the toast.

“To the betrothed pair.”

Jake took his glass and drank, then offered it to me. I stared for a moment at his full sensual lips and turned my head slightly. He was thrusting the glass into my hands and I drank.

It was as though I had sealed my promise.

They began to talk about the betrothal, which was to be celebrated at Lyon Court. The wedding would take place here.

“It should be at my mother’s house,” I protested.

“What, on the other side of the country,” cried Jake. “Sailors have no time for such fancies. Your mother must needs come to Devon if she wishes to dance at your wedding.”

“I shall make my plans,” I said.

And I saw the smile turn up Jake Pennlyon’s lips.

I listened vaguely to the conversation. Sir Penn was asking questions about my father’s estate. Edward was answering them as best he could. There should be a good dowry, Sir Penn was saying, but even if there was not there would be no bar to the marriage. “Bar my son when he’s made up his mind! That’s something I could not do an’ I wished it. Nor should I wish it. My son is the image of his father and I’d have that so too. He sees a filly and he’s got to ride her and I know he’s in no mood to wait for his bride.” He leaned toward me. “He’s eager. You’ll find he’s no laggard. That’s the way to ensure sons. You’re not one of these poor swooning females as will faint at the sight of a man. Not you. I saw it from the first. You’re the sort who’ll breed sons with spirit, for you’ve got spirit yourself; and you’ll be as mad for him as he is for you and that’s the way to get sons … get ’em early and get ’em in plenty. Pennlyon boys.”

I hated the man as much as I hated his son. Their frank and racy conversation brought images to my mind. I was a virgin, but I knew something of the relationships of the sexes. Once I had come upon two of the servants copulating in a field. I had listened to talk. So the images came and went … myself and that man, with his lustful, mocking eyes. And when I was in his presence these images were always ready to intrude and disturb.

I scarcely listened to the conversation. It was about the wedding and first of all the betrothal celebration. Honey was bewildered and I was not surprised because it was such a short time ago that I had expressed my dislike of the man. Edward never betrayed his feelings; as far as he was concerned no one would have guessed that there was anything unusual about this betrothal.

It was to take place the following week; and the wedding should be four weeks later. “That will give Jake time to do his courting.” The old man’s chuckle was horrible. He meant of course forestall our marriage vows. “And as soon as we get them into legal bed the better. Jake will be sailing just two months after the day. But it’ll not be a long voyage this time. Jake wouldn’t have that when he’d a wife keeping his bed warm for him.”

I felt sickened. I wanted to shout out: I will never agree. I am pretending. I have no intention of marrying this man.

But I kept silent because whenever I was about to speak I thought of Honey and Edward taken off to some miserable cell and my mother’s heartbroken eyes. She had suffered too much already.

In any case, I was deceiving them. I was letting this arrogant man think he had subdued me. Nothing would induce me to share his bed as his father was fond of putting it, to bear his child, which seemed to be the main idea in the minds of both of them.

It seemed a long time before they left. I was embraced by both father and son. I hated the way they thrust their bodies close to mine.

We stood in the courtyard while they rode away.

When they had gone Honey turned to me.

“What happened to make you change your mind so suddenly?”

“We can’t talk here,” I said.

We went into the punch room. I said: “Not here.” The punch room was approached from the dining room and there was no door to it, only a curtain over the archway.

I said: “Let us go into the chapel. Let us lock the chapel door and that which leads into the leper’s squint.”

The chapel was as normal. There was no sign that Mass had been recently celebrated.

I went to the leper’s squint and peered through into the little room beyond.

“The doors are locked,” I said. “What a pity you didn’t lock them both before Thomas Elders officiated.”

“What do you mean?” demanded Honey.

“Jake Pennlyon was in there.” I pointed to the squint. “I met him coming out. He told me that unless I agreed to marry him he would make it known that Thomas Elders was here and for what purpose.”

“My God!” said Edward suddenly.

Honey laid her hand on his arm. “What would happen to us, Edward?”

His fingers closed over hers protectively. How different he was from Jake Pennlyon! Must I compare every man with that one! He was gentle, protective, loving, tender.

“I don’t know,” said Edward. “It could be most unsafe.”

“So you promised, to save us.”

“I suppose so.”

“Catharine!”

“Don’t imagine I am going to marry him. I’ll fight him.” Again that wild exhilaration. I enjoyed fighting him. I wanted to defeat him, to laugh at him, to mock him. I had never dreamed it was possible to feel so strongly about one person. I had about Carey, of course, but that was the intensity of love—this was hatred. “I had to pretend then or he would have betrayed you. He is a wicked man. I loathe him and his father.”

“But, Catharine, there is to be this betrothal.”

“I shall make no vows. I shall fight them.”

Honey was looking at me strangely. Then she turned to Edward and clung to him.

He said: “Don’t fear, my love. They can prove nothing. We must be careful in future. I must warn Thomas. If young Pennlyon knows he may well set traps for him.”

I thought of my father then, who had brought so much unhappiness to our household because of what he had done to help a friend. Edward would be like that. He was such another as my father … born for martyrdom, which was a terrible thing to be born for in our times.

I went to my room and it was not long before Honey was there.

“Oh, Catharine, what have we all brought upon ourselves?”

She looked frail and frightened; her hand lay gently on her stomach as though she were protecting the child which was growing there.

I felt protective toward her and I said: “Don’t fret. I’ll outwit this arrogant Pennlyon.”

Her mood changed suddenly.

“Why, Catharine,” she said, “I have not seen you so animated since…”

She did not finish; and I knew she meant since I had learned that Carey was lost to me.

She was right. I had not felt so alive since then.

The next day the Pennlyons went away for a few days in connection with stores for the coming voyages. Jake Pennlyon rode over to Trewynd before they left. I saw him coming and went to Honey and made her promise not to leave me alone with him.

We received him in the hall. He embraced me in that manner which made me want to throw him from me and which made him laugh as he sensed my resistance. I think he liked it; my submission, of which he was absolutely sure, would be the more rewarding if he had to force it. He was a hunter and women to him were prey.

Honey sent for wine and we went to the punch room—the three of us together.

“I have bad news for you,” said Jake Pennlyon. “I have to leave you.”

I smiled and he went on: “Don’t despair. ’Tis but for a few days and I’ll be back. Then we’ll make up for our separation.”

“I would not wish you to cut short your business,” I said.

“I never waste time. Rest assured I’ll complete with all speed what has to be done and come back to you. I should like to walk in the gardens with you. There are matters we must discuss.”

“I will accompany you,” said Honey demurely.

“Madam, we would not disturb you.”

“’T would be a pleasure,” said Honey.

His eyes glinted. “We ask no chaperone.”

“Nevertheless, propriety does.”