“Elinor,” Templeton murmured, reaching for her hand, and holding it close within his own. “Do you know why I begged you to grant me a few moments alone?”
“I can’t imagine,” she replied coyly, “unless it was for the purpose of admiring this wonderful moon.”
Elinor Benton’s eyes turned upward toward the silvery shining circle that beamed down upon them through the tangled vines of the summer house. She was tantalizingly close to the man who still held her warm little fingers. The perfume that clung about her soft young body stung all the man’s unbridled senses like a whiplash. His eyes and brain saw red as he threw out his arms and clasped her roughly to him, raining kisses on her upturned face.
“You tantalizing, wonderful little beauty!” he breathed. “Is there some vampire in you? You know very well that I’m mad about you! I adore you! The moon, stars and sun, all are eclipsed in your presence!”
Passively she remained in his arms while he kissed her again and again. He held her off at arms length and looked longingly at her.
“Do you care for me? A little?” he asked eagerly. “Tell me?”
Elinor’s head fell forward on his breast.
“I—I love you,” she whispered, but there was a passion in the whispered words that even Templeton Druid, past master of heart affairs, had never before heard.
“My darling!”
His voice was softly caressing. But by the light of the moon the girl in his arms could not see the triumphant gleam in his eyes.