The Keys of Love Read Free Page B

Why?”
    Her father sighed and reached for the decanter.
    â€œYou like him a great deal, I know, but how do you know he is all that he says he is?”
    â€œHow do I know? Why because because it’s he who tells me so.”
    Lord Radford shook his head.
    â€œBut my dear, I’m afraid that I have to tell you that he is an accomplished dissembler.”
    He might as well have struck his daughter.
    She paled and stepped back.
    â€œDi ssembler? How do you know?”
    In answer, he rose, went to the door and called for the maid.
    Henrietta stared at him feeling bewildered. He did not speak until the maid appeared, her eyes cast down.
    â€œWill you now repeat to my daughter what you told me earlier,” he urged wearily.
    The maid clasped and unclasped her hands.
    â€œIt was when I heard Miss Henrietta say the Prince didn’t know who she was when he first called at the house, I thought, hadn’t I better speak up? You see I had noticed him weeks ago, driving by the house time after time in that carriage.
    â€œThen I heard he was asking questions around the district. He knew who she was all right and only yesterday I heard from the baker, who heard it from the farrier, that the carriage and the get-up are all hired. It’s said round the town that he has hardly a cent to his name. He’s a fortune seeker, sure as apples are green!”
    There was a long silence, whilst the maid twisted her hands together, worrying as to whether she had done the right thing or not.
    Henrietta stood for a long time feeling tearful.
    â€œOh, dear,” she spoke at last in a low sad voice. “I- I’ve been rather a fool, haven’t I!”
    â€œI sure am sorry, miss,” said the maid.
    â€œThat’s alright,” Henrietta told her soberly. “You were right to tell me. When the Prince calls tomorrow, do not on any account let him in. And now I must go to bed. Goodnight, Papa.”
    Her father hesitated before he answered.
    â€œGoodnight, my dearest,” he said gently, impressed with his daughter’s composure.
    He was not to hear her sobbing later in her room, as she pressed her face into her pillow to stifle the sound.
    *
    The next day, Lord Radford went to visit the bank.
    Henrietta did not go with him, as she felt somewhat fatigued. She had not slept at all well.
    She was sewing quietly in the drawing room when the doorbell sounded and she held her breath, listening.
    Yes, it was Prince Vasily.
    She recognised his exclamation of surprise as the maid informed him that her Mistress was not at home.
    Then there was the sound of the door being closed.
    She breathed out in relief and took up her sewing.
    Only a few minutes had passed when she heard the squeak of the gate in the yard at the back of the house.
    She sat, hand poised over her sampler.
    Was that someone mounting the iron stairway that led to the first floor balcony?
    Was that a shadow by the drawing room window?
    Was somebody there?
    She was about to put down her sampler and reach for the bell when the window was thrown open and a pair of highly polished boots appeared over the low sill.
    Prince Vasily followed!
    â€œH-how dare you!” she gasped, rising in horror.
    She reached again for the bell pull, but the Prince sprang forward and threw himself at her feet.
    â€œPlease, you must hear me,” he moaned. “My heart is burning. Why do you not wish to see me today, why?”
    â€œIt’s not just for today I do not wish to see you,” asserted Henrietta, trying hard to suppress the tremor in her voice. “It’s forever.”
    â€œ Forever ?”
    The Prince stared in disbelief.
    â€œWhat means this?”
    She noticed for the first time, as she gazed down at him, that the end of his nose was as thin as a knife blade.
    â€œIt means,” she answered as calmly as she could, “that I am no longer deceived.”
    â€œDeceived!”
    The Prince rose magisterially from his