“You must take heart, my child. Nothing dreadful has happened to your husband.”
“Then why is he not here? And why do your looks belie your words?”
“Sergius has had an unexpected summons.”
“Away from me?”
“Yes, he has been compelled to go to Russia.”
To Russia! To Russia, whither he had only just escaped, of all places! And without a word of farewell to me, his bride of an hour!
Surely Fate was sporting with me, when, for the second time, she robbed me of a husband on my bridal day!
But this stroke was harder than the other. The poor old earl had been claimed by Death. Sergius had left me, apparently of his own free will, and in the fullness of health and strength.
Who or what was it that had a stronger claim upon him than I had?