“When you were ill,” Rowena said, “I felt that you were like a child – who needed me as Lotty or Mark might do. But tonight – ”
She paused.
“What about tonight?” the Marquis asked.
“You are so much a – man that I am – afraid.”
“Afraid?” he questioned.
“You are different – and I know that you are – going away.”
“And you wanted me!”
There was a wealth of meaning behind the word ‘want’ and Rowena felt a little quiver run through her.
But she did not answer him and after a moment the Marquis said,
“I will teach you to want me as I want you and we will not lie awake at night, my darling heart, alone and feeling lonely.”
He kissed her again and this time there was a fire on his lips that seemed to Rowena to awaken a flickering flame deep down in her body.
She could not understand it,
