“Yes, my Lord.”
Barty left the room closing the door behind him.
Lord Seabrook reached out his hands to Lolita.
“I have asked you to trust me and I promise you again faithfully that whatever your stepfather says or does you will remain here at the castle with me and Simon.”
He took Lolita’s hands in his as he finished speaking. They were very cold and her fingers were trembling.
“You have been very brave and very clever,” he told her quietly, “and you will have to go on being brave and clever for a little while longer yet. Then it will all be over and you can be yourself as I have always wanted you to be.”
Lolita drew in her breath.
“How can you be – so sure?” she asked him with pleading eyes.
“That is what you are going to overhear.”
“I – cannot – meet – him,” whispered Lolita.
