“It is true,” she answered, with a show of proud resentment, “that we have been ordered to prepare for the journey. But the Baron may find that it is one thing to order and another to be obeyed.”
“He sends you to Krell because you will not marry Prince Ludwig?”
She laughed scornfully. “Prince Ludwig? No. The Baron’s regard for my feelings is shown by his now having provided another husband for me. Prince Ludwig has suddenly dropped out of the question.”
“Ah?”
“Yes,” she continued, in all bitterness. “King Josef is dead suddenly. The gallant Ludwig is nowhere to be found; he has had the good sense to efface himself at the thought of marrying me. His cousin Ferdinand has got himself proclaimed King, and as the throne, not the man, is Rollmar’s design for me, I am now to think no more of dear Ludwig but to marry Ferdinand, or else spend the rest of my existence in the dungeons of Krell, a warning to those who think to thwart our Chancellor. If I had loved Ludwig as much as I have hated him it would have been all the same.”
“So you have seen Rollmar?”
“This afternoon. Yes, and defied him. He seemed to consider any delicacy in announcing the change of bridegrooms quite unnecessary. He was at least frank in his brutality, and had but one word to answer all my objections; Krell. But he shall see.”
She spoke with a repressed indignation which seemed bursting for an outlet. He took her hand and they looked into each other’s eyes with a mutual understanding.
“Then you will come with me, dearest?” he said.
For a moment she did not answer, but her silence was not of hesitation, her eyes seemed searching into his very soul.