Page 178 (1/1)

Robbie fastened it at the back of oose bumps raised the hair on my arms at his touch I turned and looked up at hi "It suits you," he said

"Thank you," I whispered, my eyes full of Robbie

He put his lips near my ear "My queen," he said

Polo opened the door and announced our first guests

________________________

I was right; it would have been utterly impossible to dance with Robbie only I danced with all the men, except for Alexander's uncle Harry, as so old he could only shuffle about The hours passed in great pleasure and gaiety, and at last it was tiuests filled plates from the tables and wandered out onto the veranda and the terrace and the lawns

Robbie came to find me, and bent to speak softly in my ear "I have found a bed for us," he said

I blushed and looked around; no one was paying attention to us "What bed?" I whispered

"I spoke with uests," he said

"We arden"

I picked up a plate and looked at the heavily-laden table, and by the quivering in my middle knew that I could not eat a bite I put a few bits of food on the plate for appearances, and Robbie followed beside me

"I do love you, lass," he said "I do I shall tell you over and over, as I should have done fro"

"Robbieplease," I said "You areme quite-"

"I shall desist at once," he said "May I carry your plate for you, ave the plate to him, and he bid a servant to folloine We went out onto the terrace and across the lawn to sit under the oak tree We both took glasses of wine, and I drank

"I believe we can say that the ball is once again a grand success," he said

"Yes, it is so," I said, and sipped again I could not i I realized that Robbie's nearness wasme tremble; I wished"Perhaps we could slip away now," he said softly; "do you think that ould beinto my cheeks "Robbie, I-"