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Updated: June 14, 2025
At first the duchess drew back with a haughty gesture. "It was you I came to see," she said to Lord Arleigh; and then the sweet face touched her and her better self prevailed. "Madaline," she said, quietly, "you have suffered much through me will you pardon me?" The next moment Lady Arleigh's arms were clasped round her neck, and the pure sweet lips touched her own.
The hedge was high and thick, tall trees formed a complete barrier between the grounds and the high road, no strangers or passersby could be seen. Miss Lyster had chosen her time well. She knew that in the lady superintendent's absence the servants would hold high revels; there was no fear of interruption. In after life Marion Arleigh remembered every detail of that evening.
Allan Lyster was a wise general; he knew exactly when it was time to retreat. He would fain have lingered by her side talking to her, looking in her lovely face, but prudence told him that he had said enough. He looked across at the trees and signed to his sister, unseen and unknown to Miss Arleigh. Adelaide, quick to take the hint, joined them at once.
The duchess, with a charming gesture of invitation made room for Lord Arleigh by her side. The gallant captain did not often find an opportunity of making love to the belle of the season. Now that he had found it, he was determined not to lose it not for fifty Lord Arleighs. So, while the duchess talked to the new-comer, he relentlessly pursued his conversation with Miss L'Estrange.
His mother, Lady Arleigh, had always evinced the greatest affection for her cousin, the gentle Lady L'Estrange. She had paid long visits to Verdun Royal, always taking her son with her; and his earliest recollection was of his mother and Lady L'Estrange sitting side by side planning the marriage of their two children, Philippa and Norman.
The young girl looked up at him with a startled glance shy, sweet, hesitating and then he went up to her. "Do not let me disturb you," he said. "The duchess is engaged and gave me permission to wait for her here." She bowed, and he fancied that her white fingers trembled. "May I introduce myself to you?" he continued. "I am Lord Arleigh."
It was strange how completely a vail of silence and mystery had fallen over her. When he had been some time at Beechgrove he received one morning a letter from the Earl of Mountdean, saying that he was in the neighborhood, and would like to call. Lord Arleigh was pleased at the prospect.
"You will not introduce me then, Philippa?" "No why should I? You would only disturb the child's dream." Lord Arleigh could not rest for thinking of the vision he had seen; the face of the duchess' companion haunted him as no other face had ever done.
Miss Carleton flattered herself that she had found a treasure. Allan was not only the cheapest master she had ever had, but he was also a model of discretion. Yet none the less had he adopted his sister's ideas and made up his mind to woo and win Marion Arleigh. "It is well worth your while to try," said his sister.
It was difficult to tell who was cheered most heartily the fair young wife whose beauty won all hearts, the noble husband, or the gallant earl whose pride and delight in his daughter were so great. Lord Arleigh said a few words in response to this splendid reception and he was not ashamed of His own inability to finish what he had intended to say.
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