It makes me--happy--I am so happy.
But I must--I can't control myself here." She leaned over as if her napkin
had slipped to the floor. "I love you," she murmured.
It was Howard's turn to struggle for self-control. "I understand," he said,
"why you wished me not to go on. You never said those words to me
before--and----"
"Oh, yes I have--many and many a time."
"With your eyes, but not with your voice--at least not so that I could
hear. And--well, it is not easy to look calm and only friendly when every
nerve in one's body is vibrating like a violin string under the bow. Yes,
let us talk of something else. I've never been acutely conscious of the
presence of others when I've been with you. To-night I'm in great danger of
forgetting them altogether."
"That would be so like you." Marian laughed, then raised her voice a little
and went on. "Yes, your little restaurant in the Rue Louis le Grand was
gone. There was a dressmaker in its place--Raudinitz. She made this. How do
you like it?"
"It has the air of--of belonging to you."
Marian looked amused. Howard shrugged his shoulders. "All roads lead to
Rome," he said.
* * * * *
Carnarvon hung about until the women went to bed, so Howard and Marian had
no opportunity to be alone.
Pages:
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186