“You must not talk like that, my darling, it is wrong of me to listen to you, yet as you know I have loved you since the moment I first set eyes on you.”
“And I love you. You were the man of my dreams and since I met you I have dreamt every night that we might be together. Oh, Ruta, darling, please marry me so that I can be with you for ever.”
He tried to laugh, but it was only a whimper.
“Do you think for one moment your father would accept me? He is determined that you should make a grand marriage and what could be more splendid than being the wife of Prince Nicolo of Vienz?”
“I don’t want to be grand. I don’t want to be the wife of a Ruling Prince. I want to be your wife and to be with you, Ruta.”
The Comte groaned.
“God knows I want nothing else, but I tell you, my darling, it is
