“What do you feel about me?” he asked. “Tell me, tell me the truth, for I could not bear anything else.”
Because it did not seem real, Jacoba could only answer,
“I-I love you – I love you – I cannot help it – and – if I have to – go away – I would – r-rather – die!”
The Earl’s arms tightened until it was difficult for her to breathe.
Then he was kissing her.
Kissing her not gently but fiercely, demandingly, as if he was afraid of losing her and was fighting the world to keep her with him.
Jacoba could not believe it was happening.
Yet, as his lips took possession of hers, she felt as if a shaft of lightning flashed through her.
It was a rapture and half a pain.
It was so intense, so different from anything she had ever known before, that she could hardly believe it was real and no
