“You are unfair to me, Ernestine.” Stung by her reproach, he sought refuge in turning the tables on her. “It is you who will not trust me. Can’t you see that in our difficult position the utmost prudence is necessary? Your family—the European Courts——”
“They have no authority over me,” she said eagerly. “I married once to please my family; but the experiment was not so successful that I should wish to try it again. I have had enough of noblesse oblige in such matters. And as to the other Powers, what do I care for them? I am not ashamed of my choice. You will see whether I shrink from announcing to the world that you are to be my husband.”
“Do you know what the consequences of such an announcement would be for me, Ernestine?”
“No. What should they be?”
“The scaffold and the block, I suppose. In history that is generally the lot of the man who loves the Queen, isn’t it? But forgive me, my dearest,” as he caught sight of her agonised face; “it would not be so bad as that. I should merely have to leave Thracia, and after that I should probably disappear.”
“What do you mean?” she cried, laying a trembling hand on his. “Does my love really place you in danger, Cyril? Oh, why did I not bite my tongue out before confessing it? Can you ever forgive me?”
Cyril resisted the temptation to take her in his arms and kiss away her tears. He had deliberately struck the chord which he knew would find the surest response in her, and the advantage must not be frittered away. In other words, unless the new Ernestine would allow herself to be managed as the old one had never done, Thracia would no longer be a desirable place of residence for him; but if she proved amenable, there was still hope that he might succeed in maintaining his position. He took both her hands in his, and spoke slowly and impressively.
“Dearest, you won’t mind my putting before you the true state of the case? It would be no kindness to conceal from you the difficulties in our way. Perhaps you don’t know that if you marry a second time the Thracian Constitution deprives you of your position as regent during your son’s minority, while, as your husband, I should be unable to hold my present post. You see that our marriage would mean our forsaking King Michael, and leaving Thracia?”
“Of course I would never be separated from him,” she said indignantly. “But is there no alternative?” and her dark eyes were raised appealingly to his.
“Our only hope lies in an alteration of the Constitution; but that would never take place if the fact of our engagement became known. Drakovics is no friend of yours, and although he has tolerated me hitherto as a necessary evil, he would be delighted to find any excuse for getting rid of me. If he knew what has passed between us, it would give him the very weapon he wants, and all the Powers would be on his side.”