She sent the maid out, saying that there was no more to do, and then she took the beautiful creature in her arms and kissed her tenderly.
“So you are going to be my daughter,” she said, fondly. “Norman has told me. I hope you will be very happy, dear. My son has but one fault; he has a jealous temperament, and that caused all his trouble with poor Camille. You must guard against coquetry, Sweetheart; he will never be able to bear it,” she said, with a sigh; and she honestly believed what she said.
In her mind Camille had been a martyr.
“I have never flirted, dear Mrs. de Vere, and I shall be most careful not to do anything to vex him,” cried happy Thea, in eager earnest.
“That is right,” approvingly. “You will be on your guard to-night, love. Of course you will have many admirers. You can not help it, you are so lovely in tulle and lilies of the valley. It will be white satin and orange-blossoms soon, for I know Norman will insist on an early marriage. But, as I was saying, be careful to treat all alike. If any one proposes to you, tell him frankly you are engaged to my son. It is better to have that understood at once. You need not say it is a new thing; if they understand the engagement has existed some time, it does not matter, my dear,” anxiously.
“But no one is going to propose to me to-night. I am not vain enough to fancy two men proposing to me in one day,” laughed the happy girl; but the event justified Mrs. de Vere’s hint.
When the ball was at its height, Cameron Bentley managed to catch Thea alone for a few moments in a flowery alcove, and declared his love on the spot in an incoherent fashion that went very well with a certain dogged, harassed expression he had worn all the evening.
“I’m going to be quite frank with you, my darling,” he hurried on, not waiting for her to reply. “I’ve had a little tiff with the governor over this. He wanted me to wait till something definite could be learned about you—your origin, you know, Thea. And he is so deuced proud, he threw out hints of disinheritance if I disobeyed him and spoke to you before he found out. You won’t mind, will you? I know you won’t if you love me, and the governor will be sure to come round soon. Even if he didn’t, I believe my mother would help us; she’s so fond of me she couldn’t hold out long. I’ve my law practice, anyway, you know—enough for love in a cottage.”
“Is it your father you’re talking about, Mr. Bentley, please?” Thea faltered, miserably.
Oh, what had she done to bring this down upon her head?