His arms tightened and he asked in a tone that he could hardly recognise as his own,
“Are you saying, Nelda, that you love me?”
He was aware that she took a deep breath before she replied,
“I-I cannot – help it – please don’t – send me away!”
There was a frantic note in her voice as she lifted her face to look up at him pleadingly and her eyes wet with tears were held by Lord Harleston’s so that it was impossible to look away.
“You love me!” he said slowly as if he could hardly believe that it was the truth. “Oh, my darling, you have crucified me because I thought I would never be able to tell you how much I love you!”
She stared at him.
Then the light that came into her face was dazzling.
“You – you – love me?” she questioned beneath her breath.
“I adore and worship you!” Lord Ha
