She turned upon him, full faced and emphatic.
“But I’ll not go, nor shall you,” she declared, “unless you promise you won’t do anything without consulting me. I’m going because you need some one to curb your recklessness; and I have no mind to see you throw your life away just because you won’t take a dare.”
The Archduke gave her cheek a surreptitious pinch.
“I promise,” he laughed; “you’re something of a Dalberg dare-devil yourself when the fever is on—and you’re the finest little comrade and commander God ever made.”
Again she gave him the smile—and they went back to the others.
“Mr. Courtney,” said she, at once, “we are about to spend a short while at Dalberg Castle, going to-night by special train, with a few members of the Household; it will be a great pleasure to Armand and me to have you with us.”
“I am honored,” said the Ambassador, with a grave bow; “I shall be glad to go.”
“Even if you do disapprove,” said she lightly—“but, what would you, monsieur! I don’t want to imprison Armand, so the best thing I can do is to go along and try to take care of him; and that’s where you can help me.”
“And that, Your Highness, is precisely the reason I’m going,” he answered;—“Warwick will stick to his work to the end.”
“The end!” she exclaimed, with sharp seriousness.