chapter 31.Let me go.
1136 Words
Shock made her grope weakly for the nearest chair, and when she was safely sitting down, she said
in a quavering voice, "No, you don't understand...."
"I understand that you have your price, he muttered angrily. "And I've been pushed as far as I can be pushed, Ursula , so don't start an argument
now. You will sleep with a husband, won't you? Or do you have another nasty little surprise saved up for me after you have the ring on your finger?"
Anger saved her-clean, strength-giving anger
spurting into her veins. It stiffened her spine and
dried her tears. He was too arrogant and bullheaded
to listen to her, and she was tempted for a minute to
throw his offer back in his face, but her heart
stopped her. Maybe he was proposing for all the
Wrong reasons, but it was still a proposal of marriage. And however angry he was now, at both her
and himself, he would calm down and she would be
able to tell him the truth. He would have to listen;
she would make him. He was frustrated now and in no mood to be reasoned with; the best thing to do
was not make him angry.
"Yes," she said almost inaudibly, lowering her head. "I'll sleep with you when we're married, no matter how frightened I get."
He heaved a sigh and leaned forward to rest his
elbows on his knees in a posture of utter weariness.
"Only that saved you tonight," he admitted curtly.
"You really were frightened, you weren't faking it. You've really been treated roughly down the line, haven't you, Ursula? But I don't want to hear about
it, I can't take it now."
"All right, she whispered.
"And stop looking like a whipped kitten! he shouted, getting to his feet and pacing angrily to the
window. He shoved his hands deeply into his pockets and stood staring out at the brightly lit streets.
"I'll telephone Mama, The Queen tomorrow", he said, reining in his temper "And I'll try to get out of my meeting fairly early so we can shop for your wedding gown. Since
we'll have to get married on the island, all of the trimmings will be expected," he explained bitterly.
"Why does it have to be on the island?" she questioned hesitantly.
"Because I am a crown Prince,grew up there, he growled. "The island belongs to me, and I belong to the island. The
villagers would never forgive me if I got married anywhere but there, with all the traditional celebrations. The women will want to fuss over my bride;
the men will want to congratulate me and give me advice on handling a wife.
"And your mother?
He turned to face her and his eyes were hard.
"She'll be hurt, but she Won't question me. And let me warn you now, Ursula , that if you ever do anything to hurt or insult my mother, I'll make you wish you'd never been born. Whatever you've been through before will seem like heaven compared toonthe hell I'll put you through."
She gasped at the hatred in his eyes. Desperately she tried to defend herself and she cried out,
"You know I'm not like that! Don't try to make me a villain because things haven't gone as you'd have liked
them! I didn't want it to be this way between us."
"I can see that," he said grimly. You'd have preferred it if I'd been as gullible as Robert Stanton,seeing only your angelic face and willing to give you anything you wanted. But I know you for what you
are, and you won't take me to the cleaners like you did that old man. You had a choice, Ursula .
As my mistress, you'd have been spoiled rotten and treated like a queen. As my wife, you'll havee my
name ,title and very little else, but you made your choice and you'll live with it. Just don't expect any more generous settlenments like I gave you for those
stocks, and above all, remember that I'm Greek Prince and and future king. and after the wedding you'll belong to me body and Soul Think about that, darling He gave the endearment a sarcastic bite and she winced away from the savagery of his tone.
"You're wrong," she said in a trembling voice
"I'm not like that, William ; you know I'm not Why are you saying such awful things? Please, let me tell you how it was
"I'm not interested in how it was," he shouted suddenly, his face filled with the rage he could no longer control. "Don't you know when to shut up?
Don't push me!"
Shaking, she turned away from him and crossed to the bedroom. No, she couldn't do it. No matter how
much she loved him, it was plain that he'd never love her, and if she made the mistake of marrying him, he would make her life a misery. He'd never forgive her
for bringing him to the point where he'd agreed to marriage. He was proud and angry, and as he had
said, he was Greek. A Greek never forgot a grievance; a Greek went after vengeance.
It would be better to make a clean break, never to see him again. It would be impossible to forget him,
of course, but she knew that any sort of marriage between them was impossible. She had lived with scorn and suspicion from strangers, but she couldn't
take it from her husband. It was time she left
England completely, returned to the States, where she could live in quiet seclusion.
"Put that suitcase back," he said in a deadly voice
from the doorway as she lifted her case from the closet.
Paling, she cast him a startled glance. "Its the Only way," she pleaded. "Surely you see that marriage between us wouldn't work. let me go William
before we tear each other to pieces. "
His mouth twisted cynically
"Backing out, now that you know you won't t be able to twist me around
your little fingers? It won't work, Ursula We be married next week......unless you want to pay the price for walking out of this hotel without me?"
She knew what he meant and her chin West up without a word, she shoved her suitcase back onto the shelf and closed the doo
"I thought so, he murmured. Don't get any more ideas about running out on me, or youl regret it. Now come back in here and sit down. I'll dinner sent up and we'll work out the details of our arrangement."
He was so cold-blooded about it that the last thing
she wanted to do was talk to him, but she went
ahead of him and took a seat on the sofa, not looking at him.
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