The Midnight Queen [122]
in!" and the door opened and George entered.
"Count L'Estrange commands me to inform you, fair lady, that he
will do himself the pleasure of visiting you immediately, with
Sir Norman Kingsley, if you are prepared to receive them."
"With Sir Norman Kingsley!" repeated Leoline, faintly. "I-I am
afraid I do not quite understand."
"Then you will not be much longer in that deplorable state," said
George, backing out, "for here they are."
"Pardon this intrusion, fairest Leoline," began the count, "but
Sir Norman and I are about to start on a journey, and before we
go, there is a little difference of opinion between us that you
are to settle."
Leoline looked first at one, and then at the other, utterly
bewildered.
"What is it?" she asked.
"A simple matter enough. Last evening, if you recollect, you
were my promised bride."
"It was against my will," said Leoline, boldly, though her voice
shook, "You and Prudence made me."
"Nay, Leoline, you wrong me. I, at least, need no compulsion."
"You know better. You haunted me continually; you gave me no
peace at all; and I world just have married you to get rid of
you."
"And you never loved me?"
"I never did."
"A frank confession! Did you, then, love any one else?"
The dark eyes fell, and the roseate glow again tinged the pearly
face.
"Mute!" said the count, with an almost imperceptible smile.
"Look up, Leoline, and speak."
But Leoline would do neither. With all her momentary daring
gone, she stood startled as a wild gazelle.
"Shall I answer for her, Sir Count?" exclaimed Sir Norman, his
own cheek dashed. "Leoline! Leoline! you love me!"
Leoline was silent;
"You are to decide between us, Leoline. Though the count
forcibly brought you here, he has been generous enough to grant
this. Say, then, which of as you love best."
"I do not love him at all," aid Leoline, with s little disdain,
"and he knows it."
"Then it is I!" said Sir Norman, him whole lace beaming with
delight.
"It is you!"
Leoline held out both hands to the loved one, and nestled close
to his side, like a child would to its protector.
"Fairly rejected!" said the count, with a pacing shade of
mortification on his brow; "and, my word being pledged, I most
submit. But, beautiful Leoline, you have yet to learn whom you
have discarded."
Clinging to her lover's arm, the girl grew white with undefined
apprehension. Leisurely, the count removed false wig, false
eyebrows, false heard; and a face well known to Leoline, from
pictures and description, turned full upon her.
"Sire!" she cried, in terror, calling on her knees with clasped
hands.
"Nay; rise, fair Leoline," said the king, holding out his hand to
assist her. "It is my place to kneel to one so lovely instead of
having her kneel to me. Think again. Will you reject the king
as you did the count?"
"Pardon, your majesty!", said Leoline, scarcely daring to look
up; "but I must!"
"So be it! You are a perfect miracle of troth and constancy, and
I think I can afford to be generous for once. In fifteen
minutes, we start for Oxford, and you must accompany us as Lady
Kingsley. A tiring woman will wait upon you to robe you for your
bridal. We will leave you now, and let me enjoin expedition."
And while she still stood too much astonished by the sudden
proposal to answer, both were gone, and in their place stood a
smiling lady's maid, with a cloud of gossamer white in her arms.
"Are those for me?" inquired Leoline, looking at them, and trying
to comprehend that it was all real.
"They are for you - sent by Mistress Stuart, herself. Please sit
down, and all will be ready in a trice."
And in a trice all was ready. The shining, jetty curls were
smoothed, and fell in a glossy shower, trained with jewels - the
pearls Leoline herself
"Count L'Estrange commands me to inform you, fair lady, that he
will do himself the pleasure of visiting you immediately, with
Sir Norman Kingsley, if you are prepared to receive them."
"With Sir Norman Kingsley!" repeated Leoline, faintly. "I-I am
afraid I do not quite understand."
"Then you will not be much longer in that deplorable state," said
George, backing out, "for here they are."
"Pardon this intrusion, fairest Leoline," began the count, "but
Sir Norman and I are about to start on a journey, and before we
go, there is a little difference of opinion between us that you
are to settle."
Leoline looked first at one, and then at the other, utterly
bewildered.
"What is it?" she asked.
"A simple matter enough. Last evening, if you recollect, you
were my promised bride."
"It was against my will," said Leoline, boldly, though her voice
shook, "You and Prudence made me."
"Nay, Leoline, you wrong me. I, at least, need no compulsion."
"You know better. You haunted me continually; you gave me no
peace at all; and I world just have married you to get rid of
you."
"And you never loved me?"
"I never did."
"A frank confession! Did you, then, love any one else?"
The dark eyes fell, and the roseate glow again tinged the pearly
face.
"Mute!" said the count, with an almost imperceptible smile.
"Look up, Leoline, and speak."
But Leoline would do neither. With all her momentary daring
gone, she stood startled as a wild gazelle.
"Shall I answer for her, Sir Count?" exclaimed Sir Norman, his
own cheek dashed. "Leoline! Leoline! you love me!"
Leoline was silent;
"You are to decide between us, Leoline. Though the count
forcibly brought you here, he has been generous enough to grant
this. Say, then, which of as you love best."
"I do not love him at all," aid Leoline, with s little disdain,
"and he knows it."
"Then it is I!" said Sir Norman, him whole lace beaming with
delight.
"It is you!"
Leoline held out both hands to the loved one, and nestled close
to his side, like a child would to its protector.
"Fairly rejected!" said the count, with a pacing shade of
mortification on his brow; "and, my word being pledged, I most
submit. But, beautiful Leoline, you have yet to learn whom you
have discarded."
Clinging to her lover's arm, the girl grew white with undefined
apprehension. Leisurely, the count removed false wig, false
eyebrows, false heard; and a face well known to Leoline, from
pictures and description, turned full upon her.
"Sire!" she cried, in terror, calling on her knees with clasped
hands.
"Nay; rise, fair Leoline," said the king, holding out his hand to
assist her. "It is my place to kneel to one so lovely instead of
having her kneel to me. Think again. Will you reject the king
as you did the count?"
"Pardon, your majesty!", said Leoline, scarcely daring to look
up; "but I must!"
"So be it! You are a perfect miracle of troth and constancy, and
I think I can afford to be generous for once. In fifteen
minutes, we start for Oxford, and you must accompany us as Lady
Kingsley. A tiring woman will wait upon you to robe you for your
bridal. We will leave you now, and let me enjoin expedition."
And while she still stood too much astonished by the sudden
proposal to answer, both were gone, and in their place stood a
smiling lady's maid, with a cloud of gossamer white in her arms.
"Are those for me?" inquired Leoline, looking at them, and trying
to comprehend that it was all real.
"They are for you - sent by Mistress Stuart, herself. Please sit
down, and all will be ready in a trice."
And in a trice all was ready. The shining, jetty curls were
smoothed, and fell in a glossy shower, trained with jewels - the
pearls Leoline herself