He had recovered himself—and he remembered. He addressed her steadily, yet with a growing coldness in his tone.
“Is it your wish then, Countess, that I fulfil the obligations which you say I have incurred?”
Her face burned, her eyes were lit with fire. He had gained an advantage. He had made her angry.
“It is a brutal question,” she cried, “but quickly answered. You know quite well that if it were so I should not be here. No! I would not marry you—not even to be Queen of Theos.”
“Then why——”
“Oh, but you are blind,” she interrupted, passionately. “You understand nothing. I repeat that I would not marry you to be Queen of Theos. I am willing to be your friend. I am willing to forget your broken pledge. But listen! Theos is the dearest thing on earth to me. I am jealous for my country, not for myself. I will not have this tradesman’s daughter Queen of Theos. Do you think that I, Marie of Reist, would follow her from the room, would bend my knee to her, would call her Queen? It is madness inconceivable. I speak for myself, but there are others who feel as I feel. It would be an insult to every royal family in Europe. These are the things which I have come to say. You must abandon your purpose, or——”
“Or?”
There was a moment’s deep silence. She shook her head very slowly.
“There is not a noble of Theos, your Majesty, who would not consider himself justified in rescinding his oath to a king who could stoop so low.”
Ughtred eyed her gravely.