Sons of the Wolf (26 page)

I brought my hand down, with all my strength, on Satan's flank and, without waiting to see the result, ran toward the dog. It did not leap at me. I leaped at it, arras outstretched, waving the sable cloak like a banner. At any other time I would have laughed to see how the monster checked and stumbled, astounded by my move. A cat would feel the same way if its mouse suddenly advanced on it with teeth bared.

We went down together, rolling on the ground, with my arms clamped around the hairy neck. Only for a moment. One twist of the heavy body pinned me flat and the great jaws snapped shut-on the folds of Grandmother's cloak. As I lay on my back with the beast's hot breath in my face, I saw, with the abnormal clarity that sometimes precedes collapse, a picture I will never forget.

A length of flowing black satin soaring on the wings of the wind, the great stallion cleared the fence. Ada's black skirts blended with his blackness; she might have been part of his bone and muscle as she lay along his back, with only her white face and hands and streaming hair visible against the night. For a beautiful breathless moment the pair hung in midair, as if about to soar into the sky. Then they were gone. The hound's wet muzzle touched my cheek, and for the first and last time in that unendurable night Providence was kind enough to allow me to lose consciousness completely. The first thing I saw when I awoke was Wolfs face. He had arranged it deliberately, I am sure. As soon as he saw my eyes open, a smile widened the arrogant mouth that was only inches from mine. I stared dully into his eyes. He thought me paralyzed by fear; I was, instead, without feeling of any kind. It was a comparatively pleasant sensation. The worst has happened, I thought. I was wrong. I waited for one of his mocking remarks. "Damn you, Harriet," he said roughly, "you frightened me almost to death. Fenris is well trained, but she is a trained killer. . . . When I found you lying there under those devilish fangs, I thought-" Astounded, I realized that he was genuinely moved.

There were tears in the strange pale eyes and his face was not its normal ruddy hue. "You canting hypocrite," I said hoarsely. "You trained mat dog to kill and set it and its mate on my scent. How dare you speak to me as if-as if you-" In my rage I rose to a sitting position. It was an error; the air swam with little stars, and I felt myself falling back. His arm steadied me; his other hand held a glass to my lips. I smelled the scent of wine and turned my head sharply aside. "That is why I love you," said my tormentor pleasantly-adding, with a laugh, "one of the reasons, in any case. Barely conscious after a shocking fright, and yet you have wit enough to suspect that the wine might be drugged. Here-you need the stuff, you little fool. Will this reassure you?"

He lifted the glass to his lips and drained half the contents. When he offered the remainder to me, I took it. I did need its strength. But I turned the glass and drank out of the side opposite the one his lips had touched.

"That's better. Now lie back. For God's sake," he added irritably, as he felt me stiffen, "I've no intention of making love to you-yet. I simply want you to collect your wits."

I let my head fall onto the pillow. Now I could see where I was-the tower chamber where I had spent so many nerve-racking hours. A new fire blazed high in the hearth, casting a fitful light over the man who sat beside the bed on a wooden chair. I looked about for the wheelchair and men realized my error; it could never have ascended those narrow stairs. Wolf must have climbed them on his own two legs-such as they were. A shudder ran through me and Wolf, who saw everything, saw that. His face darkened.

"You've led me a merry chase, Harriet-in more ways than one. By rights I ought to beat you soundly."

"There is no one to stop you."

The hands which rested on his knees clenched into fists. Oddly enough I had no fear of his striking me; I would rather he had.

"I don't intend to hurt you," he said with difficulty. "I hope and believe we can reach an agreement like two reasonable adults. Are you able to listen to me now?"

The shift of firelight and shadow on his strongly marked features was unnerving. At one moment the carved nose stood out like a fragment of antique statue; at the next, pits of darkness hid cheeks and eyes.

I said slowly, "I am able."

"Good." He drew a long breath and leaned back. "You have seen your grandmother's letter. That is well; it saves long explanations."

"Yes."

"I have the will. You erred there, Harriet. Why didn't you take it with you?"

"I didn't read the letter until I got here."

"I see. Well, it would have made no difference. You understand the alternatives?"

"I-think so."

"Let me make them explicit. I have no interest in that little doll of an Ada. She may marry her stable scum if she wishes."

I remembered my last wild vision of Ada and Satan soaring over the fence. Doll indeed, I thought, and almost laughed aloud. Wolf, watching me intently, leaned forward, and I hastily composed my features. I knew what was wrong with me. The wine had affected my fatigued body and empty stomach. I was as intoxicated as any roaring stablehand on holiday. I could understand now why men drank too much. I felt lighthearted, free of care, conscious of my own superior intelligence.

"Where is Ada?" I asked craftily.

"Here, in the tower." Wolfs eyes never left my face. "It makes no difference whether you know or not. You will not see her until this is settled."

I fought to keep the triumph I felt from blazing forth in my face. He did not know of Ada's escape. Our trick with the chain had worked. If I could delay him for a few hours-till morning-I might yet be safe.

"You will release Ada?" I asked timidly. "She isn't harmed?"

"Her modesty and her maidenhead are untouched," said Wolf coldly. "My ineffectual son let himself be driven howling from her presence. But be warned, Harriet-Julian's girlish vanity is wounded. If he goes to Ada tonight, he will not be so gentle. It rests with you whether he goes or not."

"With me?"

"Don't play the fool. I want you, Harriet, you know that. I meant to have you in any case. Why, this is like a gift from the gods, can't you see that? You might have resented being my mistress; you can't object to being mistress of Abbey Manor, with a husband who admires you excessively and Ada free to pursue her own low tastes."

He leaned close, so close that I could see the fine lines under his eyes. My wine-produced calm vanished in a flutter of panic. Wine or no wine, craft or not, the man's physical nearness destroyed my will. As an enemy he was endurable; as a husband-

"No," I gasped, forgetting all my resolutions. "No, don't-"

"I could force you."

"You could not!"

"I could. You little fool, what do you know about men? Did you think, this afternoon, that I was using all my strength to hold you? I could break your bones between my thumb and forefinger. There are times when I want to, your hatred and obstinacy madden me so. If it were not that-"

He broke off, breathing heavily. I was, I confess, frozen with terror. I lay staring up at him, unable even to blink. When he spoke again, I hardly recognized his voice.

"If it were not for the fact that I love you," he said.

The words reached my ears, but not my brain.

"Love," I repeated; and then, as the sense finally penetrated, "You must be mad!"

"The poets tell us that is the true state of a lover."

"You don't care any more for the opinion of poets than I do. They are wrong."

"Oh, so you know better? This afternoon you admitted to me that you didn't know what love meant."

He was back on his favorite ground now, fencing with words. Before, his wit could disarm my inexperience. Now I did know better, with a truer knowledge.

"I didn't say that. You gave me no time to say anything. But I know that love is not what you think it."

"What is it then?" He was smiling.

"It is caring for someone else more than yourself." I stopped, seeing Francis in his futile struggle with the hounds. "It means sacrifice-giving up your life, if necessary, for the happiness of the one you love. If you really cared for me, you wouldn't force me-by any means." "That is precisely the namby-pamby idiocy I would have expected from you," said Wolf easily. "I thought y embrace, restrained as it was, would have taught you tier."

"It made me sick," I said tactlessly. "Oh, no, it didn't. You have great capacities, Harriet, give me a little time and I'll teach you what love means." He bent over me and again the man's mere presence got me scuttling for coverin this case to the far side of bed, where I sat up.

"You must give me time," I babbled. "I can't decide-can't think-"

"Time is what I don't have." He spoke brusquely, but re was a self-satisfied smile on his lips as he leaned ck in the chair. "You are making a mountain out of a molehill, Harriet; most people would find your attitude incomprehensible. In our civilized world marriages are normally arranged by parents or guardians, and disobedient children are punished! Suppose you had managed to get away and had told some benevolent magistrate in York the tale of Ada and her groom. I fancy he would nod his benevolent head and stroke his white beard and tell you that your wise guardian had acted quite correctly."

"Not if I told him of Ada's abduction-of your intention of forcing her-"

"Well, possibly not. But I should, of course, attribute that tale to the hysterical imaginations of two flighty young girls. Harriet, Harriet-you could find a far worse husband. I have rather advanced notions about marriage. Marriage with me can be joy and excitement, not the genteel slavery to which you would be reduced by most men. Forget the silly prejudices about love which your prudish grandmother instilled in you, and give your own impulses a chance." It was in this mood that I feared him most. He was so reasonable and so restrained-and, though I fought it, some part of me responded to him and to his arguments. Was this the time to make my next move? He could see by my expression that I was affected. If I promised to marry him . . . There was no minister closer than Middleham. H I pretended to give in, he might let me go to Francis.

I had learned nothing from my earlier experiences with him; I was still incredibly naive.

"If I say Yes," I muttered, "will you let Ada go, now?"

For a moment he did not answer. The firelight leaped up, and every contour of his face was redly lighted.

"Do you say Yes?" he asked.

"What else can I say?"

"You agree to marry me, whenever I say?"

"I-yes."

There was something wrong. I felt it, like a blast of wintry air. Moving very deliberately he reached inside his coat and withdrew-of all things-a small black book. Balancing it on the palm of his hand, he held it out to me.

"You will swear, on this Book?"

I did not hesitate. I stretched out one hand and placed it on the Bible. I raised my eyes and met his eyes squarely.

"I swear," I said, "to marry you whenever you say."

Some strong emotion flared in his face. It was not passion; I knew that look now. My hand fell as he withdrew the Book, and for a moment he sat looking down at the little volume with his head cocked on one side. Then his left hand moved. It went to his cravat and, in one quick movement, untied the knot. He pulled it off and dropped it to the floor.

I gave one small gasp. I saw into his mind and he saw mine; and I knew I was mad to think I could delude him.

Slowly he turned his hand and the Book fell, striking the floor with a thud, sending up a little cloud of gray dust.

"Your sworn word," he said. "I commend your lie, heart of my heart, but did you really take me for such a fool?"

There was no need for me to speak.

"I know your word isn't worth a damn," he went on contemplatively. "You would say anything. You must give me something more concrete than words."

"Why?" I gasped. "Why?"

"The obvious answer must have occurred to you. I'm not accustomed to waiting for what I want, and I've waited longer than you imagine. But there is another reason. I don't trust you, my wily darling; it makes me blush to think what you might say to a man of the cloth, tomorrow or next day. No. You will become my wife tonight-in fact if not in name. That will be sufficient confirmation of your promise."

I sat with head bowed, avoiding his eyes. He took my silence for despair, but I was, in reality, thinking furiously. How long had I been unconscious? How much time had elapsed since Ada left? If she could find help in Middleham, I might postpone my decision long enough. If she had to proceed to Ripon or York, I was lost. But I had to act on the assumption that help was coming. If the worst happened, let me delay it as long as possible!

"Let us end this," Wolf said harshly. "I have shown you the bright side of the coin; let me show you the other. If you refuse me tonight, Julian goes to Ada. My gentle Julian has some habits which you don't suspect." He caught my wrist and pulled me close. His eyes stared down into mine; they were luminous and shallow, the eyes of a wolf. "I'll show you another sight in the morning," he said. "My unfortunate son Francis seems to have disappeared, did you know that? I greatly fear that the poor fellow has met with an accident on the moor. It is a treacherous place-easy to lose one's way. I plan to send out searching parties in the morning, but if he lies out of doors for a night, in such weather ..."