The reasonableness of the suggestion was manifest. She took the pen and wrote a simple message. “Come, before I return with Rollmar. R.”
As she wrote the Chancellor’s name her hesitation vanished. She hated that pitiless old opponent of her happiness, and the idea of his taking her back in triumph was more humiliating than her pride cared to contemplate.
The Count took up the paper as her pen left it. “I will send this by a trusty fellow, and your friend shall soon be here,” he said significantly. “I, Princess, am not dead to the romantic side of this life of ours, as the Chancellor seems to be.”
The meeting between Ruperta and Rollmar was as brief as it was awkward. The old diplomatist was cynically polite, while Ruperta masked by her coolness and obvious dislike any expression of the mortification which was at her heart.
“I am sorry for any inconvenience it may cause you,” Rollmar said, as Ruperta was about to retire, “but it is necessary that we make an early start homewards in the morning. The Duke will be terribly anxious until he is assured of your safety.”
“Then would it not be well to send off a messenger at once?” was her not unnatural suggestion.
“That has already been done,” he replied authoritatively; “but it is necessary for affairs of State that my return be not delayed an hour longer than is absolutely unavoidable.”
Ruperta glanced sharply at the determined, inscrutable face, and told herself that this early start meant in all probability a longer journey than that suggested, doubtless one to the Fortress of Krell, and her whole spirit revolted at this man’s insolent assumption of power over her liberty. Still, she knew her father’s weakness and his servant’s strength, and saw no way out of the situation, but one.
The hour had not sped when the Count redeemed his word, and Ludovic stood before her. Then at last she broke down under the strain which danger, anxiety, and uncertainty had put upon her; the brave nature gave way, and she fell sobbing into his arms.
“Darling, darling, I thought, though I dared not confess it, never to have seen you again.” When she grew calmer she told him all that had happened. He looked grave, listening with a slight frown when she spoke of the Count.