"Aye," he smiled. "Since 'tis your wish, dear witch, I will. None but the Gods can tell what may have befallen us by this time next year. So let us suck our golden orange till 'tis dry. We'll still have the rind, and in that lies the essential essence of the fruit; its quality of greatest value, like our sweet companionship."
Georgina gave him a long kiss, and murmured: "Well said, dear love. I am now content; and when thou hast left my side I shall fall asleep only to enjoy sweet dreams of thee."
"Then I will leave thee now to my most fortunate dream image."
As he made to rise she pushed him back, on a sudden thought occurring to her. "That horse. Think you it could have been Vorontzoff leaving for London in a dudgeon?"
Roger shook his head. "Nay. He came in a coach with outriders. He would not set out to return alone."
"I would to God it was," she sighed. "How I'll face him when we next meet, I cannot think."
"Then think not of it, angel. I'll stick by your side throughout the day;, so that he has no chance to corner you alone."
"The sight of you beside me will infuriate him the more. After your visit to him last night 'tis a hundred to one that he guessed you to be my lover."
"Were the odds a thousand to one I would not take them," Roger laughed. "I would wager any money that he slipped along the corridor after I left him to make certain that you were not alone. And discretion is not your major virtue, my pet. A score of times I have begged you to lower your voice when we are in here together, but you persistently ignore my counsel; so he is bound to have heard us.
"Oh, drat the man! the thought of him has now robbed me of all wish to sleep. Keep me company a while longer, dear one. Nibble my ear for a little, you know how I love that."
"Thou art a veritable child," he smiled. "Turn over, then; and I'll indulge thee."
For a few moments they lay quietly side by side while he gently teased the lobe of her right ear, then she said with a happy sigh: "Oh, darling, 'tis the most lovely feeling; and I adore thee so. Thou hast but one single shortcoming."
Stopping, he raised his head and asked in mock indignation."And what may that be, pray?"
She giggled. "That thou hast not two mouths with which to nibble both my ears at the same time."
It was at that instant both of them caught the sound of heavy footsteps pounding along the corridor at a run. Jerking apart they sat up in bed. Georgina snatched at her nightdress. Roger stretched out a hand in an endeavour to reach his gown.
The crashing footfalls came to an abrupt halt outside the door. Suddenly it was thrown open, and a tall figure burst into the room.
The intruder paused just inside the doorway. He was a man of about thirty; fair-haired, red-faced, broad-shouldered. He was booted and spurred and his clothes were covered with dust. In his right hand he held a heavy riding crop that trailed a long lash; in his left a handkerchief with which he began to mop his perspiring face.
Roger had never seen him before, but he guessed instantly that this must be Georgina's husband.
Confirming his thought came her swift cry:' "Humphrey! What brings you here? How dare you invade my privacy in this barbarous fashion!"
Slamming the door behind him Sir Humphrey Etheredge strode forward to the foot of the bed. "And you, Madam!" he bellowed like an angry bull. "How dare you commit your whoredoms in my house?"
" 'Tis not your house," she retorted, her black eyes flashing. "Stillwaters is mine for life under our marriage contract."
"I care not!" he roared. "I told you when last we met in London that you must be more circumspect in your affairs. I warned you that I would no longer tolerate being made an open mock of. I'll not submit to being pointed at as a figure of fun to pleasure you or any other harlot!"
Georgina had covered herself by jerking the bedclothes up to her chin. Roger had seized the chance while they were storming at one another to slip out of bed and pull on his robe. Now, stepping forward, he said firmly:
"Sir Humphrey. My name is Roger Brook. I am prepared to give you full satisfaction whenever it may suit you. Let us curtail this undignified scene and behave like gentlemen. Be good enough to leave the room with me and give me the names of your seconds."
The irate husband swung upon him. "My quarrel is not with you, Sir! That Frenchman, whoever he may be, said in the note he sent to Goodwood that if I immediately took horse and got here by dawn I should find a young cockscomb warming my wife's bed for me. But whether 'twas yourself or another I do not give a damn. 'Tis her I have ridden twenty-five miles to catch. And now I've caught her I intend to give her a damn good flogging, for 'tis the only language she will understand."
As he ceased his tirade he stepped swiftly round the side of the bed and, raising his whip, struck at Georgina.
Roger threw himself across the bed in an effort to shield her and grabbed at the lash as it descended. Missing her face by an inch it caught him across the back of his left hand, but he failed to grasp it. Realising the futility of such half-measures he slid off the bed and squared up to Sir Humphrey.
Ignoring him, the purple-faced Baronet struck at Georgina a
second time. She had stretched out her hand to snatch up a heavy cut-glass scent bottle that stood on her bedside table. Just as she grasped it the lash came down again, cutting her across the neck and down the upper part of her naked back.
Out of the corner of his eye Roger saw the lash fall, and heard her give a swift whimper. Head down, fists clenched and half-mad with rage he sailed into Sir Humphrey, striking out with all his force. His right caught the Baronet a terrific blow just below the heart. At the same instant Georgina flung the scent-bottle and it caught her husband on the temple. He gave a grunt, lurched, and fell to the floor.
For a moment he lay silent and they stared at him in horror; then he began to groan. Georgina jumped out of bed and made to kneel down beside him; but Roger thrust her aside.
"Leave this to me," he muttered. "And in heaven's name get some clothes on before the commotion we have raised brings the household upon us."
As she hurried into her nightdress and pulled a chamber-robe over it, he swiftly loosed Sir Humphrey's cravat to ease his breathing. The Baronet continued to groan and rolled his head painfully from side to side a little; but he showed no signs of returning consciousness.
Georgina ran to her washstand, picked up a jug of cold water and, running back with it, sluiced its contents over his head and shoulders.
Roger had already examined the side of the injured man's head where the scent-bottle had struck it. There was only a small cut from which a few drops of blood were oozing; but the scent had sprayed all over him and the whole room now reeked of the heady perfume.
Kneeling down opposite Roger, Georgina wiped the few drops of blood from her husband's head with a handkerchief. She had hardly done so when the movements of his neck ceased, his mouth fell open, and a horrible rattling noise began to issue from his throat.
It continued for a full minute while they knelt there petrified. Suddenly it ceased. Both of them looked up at the same moment and their terrified glances met across the body.
CHAPTER v
A BID FOR LIFE
ROGER was kneeling on the left side of the corpse; Georgina on its right. Neither of them moved. White-faced and stunned they continued to stare at one another across it.
Suddenly Georgina broke the silence in a frightened whisper.
"Roger—in the crystal yesterday! Your—your heavy loss at cards!"
He nodded. "And for you—the treachery through a letter writ in a foreign hand!"
Again there flashed into both their minds the third picture she had conjured up from the depths of the water-filled goblet; the courtroom scene—the judge in his red robe—the gallows tree.