60 The Duchess Disappeared by Barbara Cartland

Author:Barbara Cartland
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781782133612
Publisher: M-Y Books
Published: 2013-05-28T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

It seemed as if a very long time passed before Fiona could raise her eyes and look up at the Duke.

Then the expression she saw on his face made her draw in her breath.

“I have no excuse,” he said, still in the low voice he had used before, “except that you drove me insane with jealousy and I thought in my madness that you had been with Torquil.”

“How could you – think – such a – thing?” Fiona stammered.

She meant to sound angry, but her voice seemed only breathless.

“I told you that I was insane,” the Duke replied.

As they stood looking at each other, Fiona thought that she was looking at a stranger and yet at the same time their minds were so attuned that there was no need for explanations, no need for apologies.

“Forgive me,” the Duke repeated.

Then, before she could reply, he added,

“What are we to do about us? Tell me, for I have lain awake all night fighting against my anger. Now I know how despicably I behaved, but I still have found no solution to the problem.”

Because she was bewildered and did not know what to say, Fiona felt that she must go back to the beginning and clear away what he had believed about her before they progressed any further.

“You know – now,” she asked, “that I had been – trying to help – Jeannie?”

“Mrs. Meredith told me this morning how miraculously your herbs had worked. I then realised what a fool I had made of myself.”

He looked into her eyes as he said,

“But I would not have it otherwise. When I kissed you, I found myself in Heaven after being in Hell for so long that I did not recognise that there was any other existence for me.”

“I only learnt – yesterday of the – terrible suspicions that are – directed against– you,” Fiona said hesitatingly.

“Torquil told you, I suppose,” the Duke said sharply.

She thought his tone was critical and she answered,

“He thought I – ought to know because I – questioned him as to why – you were so – isolated here.”

“And when he told you, what did you feel?”

She knew that there was a depth of feeling behind the question, which made her answer in all sincerity,

“I was – sorry, so very – sorry.”

“I don’t want your pity!”

“I am not offering you that. The Earl believes in you.”

“And you?”

Fiona looked into his eyes and knew the truth.

“I know that you could not commit murder.”

The Duke gave a sound that was a cry of triumph and put out his arms. Then, as if with a superhuman effort, he dropped them again.

“Do you really believe in me?” he asked.

Fiona nodded.

For the moment she could not trust herself to speak.

“Then nothing else matters,” he said. “But you still have not answered my question. What can we do about us?”

Fiona made a helpless little gesture.

“What can we do?”

The Duke took a deep breath before he declared,

“You know if it was possible I would ask you to marry me.

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