Without meaning to, Mariota’s fingers tightened on his arm and he held the reins with one hand and covered hers with the other.
Because they were not wearing gloves, she felt herself tremble at his touch and knew that when he looked at her he felt the same.
“No other woman could make me feel like this,” he said, “I know too, my precious darling, that no other man has meant anything in your life.”
“There has been no – other man.”
“That is what makes you so perfect, so unique and mine!”
He took her hand in his and said,
“I must tell you what happened, although it is difficult to talk to you of anything but my love.”
“That is – what I want to – hear,” Mariota said, “but I cannot – bear to see you – unhappy.”
“Unhappy? Of course I am unhappy! There will never be any happiness for me in
