“My precious heart, try to be sensible,” Lord Athelstan pleaded. “How could it be possible, now that we love each other, for me to let you go to your death?”
“I have to! Can you not – understand? I have to!”
She turned to face him and she saw the tears in her eyes.
“I love you! I love you – desperately with every nerve in my – body and with every – breath I draw!”
There was a throb in her voice, but before he could speak, she continued,
“But do you think either of us could spoil the love we have for each other or find any happiness together, if our lives were built on – dishonour? If the price we had to pay to be – together was my brother’s – freedom?”
Lord Athelstan drew a deep breath.
Then, as he bent forward, his eyes on the floor as if he could not bear to look at her, Natasha r
