Only One Love, or Who Was the Heir Part 42

CHAPTER XXII.

Jack called a hansom--of course he could have walked, but he had no idea of economy or the value of money--and was driven to Park Lane.

Half a dozen times on the way he felt inclined to stop the cab, jump out and go to the club--anywhere but Lady Bell's; but nevertheless, he found himself in Park Lane, and ascending the staircase. He saw at once, by a few unmistakable signs, that the party was a small and select one, and furthermore, judging by the tasteful magnificence of the appointments, that Lady Bell's wealth had not been very much exaggerated.

He made his way slowly, for a dance was just over, and the stairs were lined, as usual, with people mostly whom he knew, and had to stop to speak to. Amongst them were Sir Arkroyd Hetley, and Dalrymple, of course together.

"Hullo, here's the Savage!" cried Hetley. "How do you do, Jack? You've soon got on the war trail, old fellow," he added in a low voice and with a significant smile.

Jack growled something and made his way into the room.

For a moment he could see nothing of Lady Bell, then as she came out of the fernery and advanced toward him her dark eyes flas.h.i.+ng, or rather gleaming softly, with a faint, delicious color mantling on her cheeks, he felt almost the same shock of surprise which had fallen on Una.

He had scarcely noticed her the other night, had scarcely, indeed, seen her, and he now saw, as it were for the first time, her beauty, set off and heightened by the aid of one of Worth's happiest dresses, and Emanuel's diamonds. In spite of himself he was dazzled, and his frank eyes showed that he was.

And Lady Bell? Well, though his face had scarcely left her mind's eye since she had seen it, she was not disappointed.

Notwithstanding the rather bored and surly--not to say ferocious expression which set upon it--she thought him handsomer than even she had remembered him.

"This is very kind of you, Mr. Newcombe," she said speaking first, for Jack had contented himself with bowing over her hand.

"Kind?" said Jack, in his straightforward way.

Lady Bell hesitated, and for the first time, perhaps, in her life, smiled shyly.

"I heard--they tell me--that it is as difficult to get Mr. Newcombe to a dance as a prince of the blood royal."

"It isn't much in my way," said Jack, quietly; "I am not a dancing man--that is, I don't care for it."

"Then it was kind," said Lady Bell, recovering her courage and smiling at him with that wonderful smile which Hetley and all the rest of them talked so much about.

Jack looked at her. Yes, certainly she was very beautiful, and there was a subtle something in that smile.

His ill-temper began to disappear.

"I should say," he said, "that a man ought to feel lucky at the chance of getting here."

"They also told me," said Lady Bell, archly, "that you never paid compliments."

"Someone seems to have been taking a great deal of trouble to make me out a regular boor," said Jack, with his curt laugh. "Did they also tell you that I lived in the woods up a tree, and existed on wild animals?"

"Like a savage?" said Lady Bell, wickedly.

Jack flushed and looked at her; then her smile conquered and he laughed.

"Yes, that is what they call me, confound their impudence! But I'm a very tame kind of a savage, Lady Earlsley; I shan't scalp you."

"It wouldn't matter much, would it?" she retorted. "They make such beautiful false hair now."

Jack looked down on the soft, glossy head, with its thick, light coils, and smiled.

"Are you going to change your mind and scalp me, after all?" she said.

"You make me tremble when you look like that."

Jack laughed right out.

"No," he said; "even a savage is incapable of such ingrat.i.tude. I have come to-night, Lady Earlsley, to thank you for your kindness the other night, and to tell you how sorry I am that--that you should have had so much trouble!"

And a blush managed to show itself under the tan.

Lady Bell looked down.

"It was no trouble," she said. "I was afraid that you were hurt. It was very clumsy and stupid of my man."

"It was all my fault," said Jack, penitently. "I----"

"Do not say any more," she said, gently, and she put her finger tips on his arm.

Jack looked at her, and met her gaze, full of concealed interest, and his own eyes fell before it.

They had been standing near the fernery, behind which stood Una; she could hear every word, see every look.

Pale and almost breathless she stood, her hands clasped in front of her, her heart beating fast, her eyes fixed on Jack's face. She longed to fly, yet could not move a foot. Something, his very presence, his very voice, held her like a chain.

She felt that if he were to turn and, seeing her, say, "Follow me!" she must follow him, though it were to the end of the earth.

A storm of conflicting emotions battled within her for mastery; a wild delight at his presence, an intense longing that his eyes might turn and rest on her, and at the same time an awful miserable feeling, which she did not know was jealousy.

How beautiful they looked, these two, Lady Bell, the heiress, in her rich dress and splendid jewels, and he, with his tanned face and bold, fierce eyes, his stalwart frame towering above all others, and sinking them into insignificance. How well matched they seemed. Why--why did Lady Bell smile at him like that? No wonder his face had grown brighter.

Who could resist that bewitching smile?

The music of a waltz commenced and recalled her to a sense of her position. With a start she drew still further back, so that she was quite out of sight.

"There's a dance," said Jack, in his blunt way. "I would ask if you were free to give it to me, but I cannot dance to-night. I am in mourning.

Don't let me keep you, though."

"That is a plain intimation," said Lady Bell; "but I am sorry that you are in trouble. In sober earnest it was kind of you to come. I hope it was no one near to you."

"No," said Jack, and his face clouded at the recollection of Hurst Leigh. "It was a very dear old friend who had been very good to me."

Lady Bell inclined her head, and her voice grew wonderfully soft.

"I see that I must not keep you. I shall not be offended if you leave us at once. If I had known----"

Now here was Jack's opportunity. Why did he not seize it and go?