She smiled at him so placidly that even Drake, who knew her better than
did any other man, was completely deceived.
"She means to forget the past," he said to himself. "She is behaving
better than I had any reason to expect."
He drew a breath of relief, and his stern face relaxed somewhat as he
nodded slightly and went toward Nell, who had risen from the piano and
stood near Falconer. She looked at Drake and Lady Luce as calmly as she
could, and Drake made the introduction in as ordinary a tone as he could
manage. Lady Luce held out her hand with a sweet smile.
"I am so glad to meet you, Miss Lorton," she said. "I have heard so much
about you; and I dare say you have heard something about me, for Lord
Angleford and I are very old friends. How charmingly you played that
difficult accompaniment! Shall we go and sit down somewhere together and
have a chat?"
What could Nell say or do? Both she and Drake were helpless. Nell stood
with downcast eyes, the color coming and going in her face, and Drake
looked from one to the other, half relieved, half in doubt.
"Let us go and sit on that ottoman," said Lady Luce, indicating one in
the center of a group of ladies.
Nell, as she followed, glanced at Drake as if she were asking, "Must I
go?" He made a slight gesture in the affirmative, returning her glance
with one of tender love and trust.
The countess stood at a little distance, watching them, though
apparently absorbed in conversation, and no one would have guessed the
condition of her mind as she saw the two women seated side by side.
Presently she went up to Drake.
"What does it mean?" she asked. "Why has she not gone? Why is she so--so
friendly with Nell?"
Drake shrugged his shoulders with a kind of smiling despair.
"I can't tell you," he replied. "I think she is going to behave
sensibly. At any rate, there is no need for anxiety. I have told Nell
everything. She will trust me."
"Yes; but I wish she had gone," said the countess, in a low voice.
Drake smiled grimly.
"So do I. But she hasn't."
"She is too serene and contented," murmured the countess.
Drake shrugged his shoulders again.
"I know," he said significantly. "But what does it matter? She can do no
harm. Nell knows everything."