He had not seen Luce that morning, for he had been out, inquiring at the
lodge at six, and had gone straight on to Anglebridge, where he had
breakfasted.
In his heart he had been glad of the excuse for his absence, for the few
hours of reprieve. But he would have to see her now, would have to ask
her to be his wife--while his heart ached with love for Nell!
As he drove up to the door, one of the Angleford carriages came round
from the stables. He glanced at it absently, and entered the hall
slowly, draggingly, and was amazed to find Lord Turfleigh, in overcoat
and hat, standing beside a pile of luggage.
"By George! just in time, Drake!" he exclaimed, his thick voice
quavering with suppressed excitement, his hands shaking as he tugged at
his gloves. "Just had bad news--deuced bad news!"
But though he described the intelligence as bad, there was a note of
satisfaction in his voice.
"I'm sorry. What is it?" asked Drake.
"Buckleigh--Buckleigh and his boy gone down in that infernal yacht of
his!" said Lord Turfleigh hoarsely.
He turned aside as he spoke to take a brandy and soda which the footman
had brought.
The Marquis of Buckleigh was Lord Turfleigh's elder brother, and, if the
news were true, Lord Turfleigh was now the marquis, and a rich man.
Drake understand the note of satisfaction in the whisky-shaken voice.
"Just time to catch the train!" said the new marquis. "Where the devil
is Luce? I always said Buckleigh would drown himself----Where is Luce?
She thinks I'll go without her; but I won't!" He swore.
At that moment Lady Luce came down the stairs. She was coming down
slowly, reluctantly, her fair face set sullenly; but at sight of Drake
her expression changed, and she ran down to him. There might yet be time
for the one word.
"Drake!" she cried, in a low voice, "I am going----You have heard?"
"Yes, yes," her father broke in testily. "I've told him. Get in. It will
be a near thing as it is. Come on, I tell you!" and he shambled down the
steps to the carriage.
She held Drake's hand and looked into his eyes appealingly.
"You see! I must go!" she murmured.
He nodded gravely.
"But you will come back?" he said, as gravely. "Come back as soon as you
can."
Her face lit up, and she breathed softly. She was now the daughter of a
rich man, but she wanted Drake, none the less.