“I-I thought – the same,” Kezia whispered, “but I thought – you loved – Madame de Salres.”
“I have never loved anyone in the real meaning of the word,” the Marquis said firmly, “and it is going to take me a lifetime to explain to you how different what I feel for you is from anything I have ever felt before for anyone.”
He drew a deep breath as if a burden had fallen from his shoulders before he said,
“How soon can we be married – tonight, tomorrow?”
Kezia gave a little cry.
“You are going so quickly – I want to be your wife – but only if you are quite – certain that you will not become – bored or disenchanted with me.”
“Bored or disenchanted?” the Marquis exclaimed. “Do you really think that is possible?”
There was a note in his voice that made her heart leap.
At the same time she
