The Black Benedicts (22 page)

“
I know,
”
he said, and his face twisted slightly.
“
But as it was in any case a hopeless love she isn
’
t really any the worse off. And at least
s
he was with him—at the last!
”

For a moment there was silence between them, and then he spoke to her with deliberate briskness:

“
And do you know what I
’
m going to do now?
”
he said.
“
I
’
m going to drive you home to Morven as soon as they
’
ll let me do so—and I think that will be tomorrow!—and then just as soon as you
’
re fit for the journey I
’
m taking you
back
to your mother, and immediately I
’
ve received her permission to do so I
’
m going to marry you! And bring you back to Morven!
”

“
Oh!
”
she exclaimed, and her eyes were like soft grey stars as she turned them to him.

He stroked her cheek caressingly.

“
Two people who will be delighted about that will be Mrs. Carpenter and Serena,
”
he told her.
“
For now you really will be like a mother to Serena! And perhaps one day...!
”

The look in his eyes brought such a vivid blush to her cheeks that he decided to spare her and kissed her, lingeringly, instead. And then he whispered:

“
Do you know, there
’
s something we
’
ve neither of us said to one another, and I
’
m going to say it now! I love you, Mallory, my darling! I love you so much that I can
’
t imagine however I existed before you came into my life!
”

And she looked up at him shyly, but with radiant happiness in her eyes, and whispered backs
“
I love you, Raife! I
’
ll love you—always!
”

THE END