“I just might decide to tell the world,” he said, “and force your hand. And I might have agreed withthe rest of what you said three days ago. Two and ahalf days is not at all long enough to fall in love andto know that one has found the treasure of one’s life,is it?”
“No,” she said, and then she looked more deeply into his eyes. “What a lovely idea. I am not, am I?”
“The treasure of my life?” he said. “I think you are, Dinah. In fact, I am certain you are. Absurd, amI not? Do you like me well enough to let me pay courtto you? I shall invite my aunt and uncle and youngcousins here for Christmas, shall I? And come to London for the Season? And perhaps spend part of thesummer with your family? And perhaps make my offer at the end of the summer. Will that be long enough,Dinah? Or will you need longer? I know you are veryyoung.”
“I am nineteen,” she said with some indignation. ‘‘You cannot be that sure that you will want to. Canyou?”
He bent his head and kissed her softly on the lips. ‘‘As sure as that I am standing here compromising youdreadfully,” he said.
“Well, then,” she said, “you must be as foolish as I. A fine couple we will make.”
He drew back his head and looked into her eyes. “Translate for me,” he said.
“I love you,” she said, and laughed rather breathlessly. “It is ridiculous and impossible after two and a half days. But it is so.”
“Perhaps,” he said, “I will make my offer during the Christmas holiday. Shall I? To your mother, Dinah? Is it to her you would wish me to speak?”
“Yes,” she said. “And to Sir Anthony, if you please. He has been as good as a real father to me. AtChristmastime, Edgar? That soon?”
“Or when I escort you home after the measles have finally run their course,” he said. “Shall we wait andsee if we still think ourselves foolish when that timecomes? I had better get you back home, love. If youare missed, you know, we will be an old married couple long before Christmas.”
She laughed shakily again and did not protest when he wrapped one arm about her waist, kissed her onceon the lips, and began to walk with her back along thebeach toward the cliff path. She rested her head againsthis shoulder and gave her attention to foolish and wonderful nonsense talk. Until they were at the top of the path and on the clifftop again, that was.
Ahead of them, not too far off, a huge black stallion was pawing the ground while a dark-haired, bareheaded man in a long black cloak swung down to theground and lifted down after him with infinite care andtenderness a blond, curly-haired lady, whose light-colored cloak swung open to reveal a white nightgownbeneath. He kissed her swiftly before turning to slapthe horse smartly on the rump and set it gallopingalone back toward Malvern. Then he set his arm protectively about the girl’s shoulders and hurried her toward the path that Dinah and Lord Asquith had justvacated.
“Oh.” Dinah stood stock still and stared.
“What is it, love?” Lord Asquith asked, tightening his arm about her waist.
Dinah smiled radiantly. “She came down,” she said. “At last she found the courage and the means.And she was not too late. He was there waiting forher after all.”
Lord Asquith kissed her ear. “Now what are you raving on about?” he asked, laughter in his voice.
She looked up at him quickly and then gestured to the couple, who had almost come up with them. “Thesad lady,” she said, “and the dark rider. There.”
He looked right at them. “Dinah,” he said, and his voice was even more amused, “are you seeing ghosts?Don’t worry, darling. I’ll protect you.” And hechuckled and tried to kiss her mouth. But she twistedher head away and watched the dark rider and his ladypass them. He swung his lady up into his arms andproceeded down the path with her.
“You don’t see them?” Dinah said. “They arethere, Edgar, as plain as day. ”
“The dark rider?” he said. “You mean my shady Roundhead ancestor, Dinah? And the lady he hauntsMalvern to rescue?”
“Yes,” she said. “He did finally persuade her to leave, you see. I am so glad, Edgar. So very glad. Shewas with child, you see, and would have been facingterrible scandal and heartache had she stayed. Now atleast they have a chance for happiness. Oh, they aregoing to be happy. I know they are.”
He turned her toward him and framed her face with his hands. He was no longer laughing. “Dinah,” hesaid. “Not only do you believe it, but it is so, is itnot? Mrs. Knole has always said that there are somepeople—very few, she says—who are so close to thespirit world that sometimes they can see it. I have neverbelieved her. But it is true, isn’t it?” He frowned.
“Yes,” she said. “She was so sad, Edgar. She was in my room. And locked in there, though she knew aservant who could be persuaded to set her free. Butshe was a timid soul, poor lady. And so very deeplyin love.”
“And you persuaded her to leave?” His eyes were searching hers.
“Perhaps in a way,” she said. “Although she actually left almost two hundred years ago, Edgar. I ran to the cliffs to stop him. I thought he had given up andgone without her just when she was finally making upher mind to leave. But he waited long enough. Perhapshe would never have left without her.”
“That is what you were doing out here?” he asked.
She nodded. “I am sorry, Edgar,” she said. “I know it was against your express wishes, but I forgotthem when I felt her sadness and longing and when I knew she was increasing. And when I thought he wasgoing to leave. I ran down to stop him.”
“And last night?”
“I saw him,” she said, “but I thought he was you, Edgar. When he beckoned, I went down. He looks justexactly like you. I knew she must not let him go.”
