He took her in his arms and held her close before saying teasingly, 'You realise that we've spent the night together, don't you? Now you'll have to marry me so that I can make an honest woman of you.'�
'I shall insist on it!' Lee retorted happily as she drew his head down so that she could kiss him.
'And the Chalet Alpenrose?' There was a slightly anxious look that he couldn't disguise in his eyes as he asked the question. 'I have papers at the Schloss. I'll show them to you when we get back. Old Herr Staffler has hated my family ever since my grandfather's day. It was he who poisoned your great-uncle's mind, making him think that all his ills were our fault, just as he tried to poison yours—but, Lee, I can…'
Lifting her hand, Lee placed her fingers over his mouth to stop him. 'It doesn't matter any more, Max,' she said softly.
He turned his head into her palm and kissed it gently. 'I don't want it ever to come between us again, Lee,' he said earnestly.
"It won't, because I've decided to give the chalet away.'
'Give it away?' Max's eyebrows rose in astonishment.
'Yes,' Lee smiled. 'To you—as a wedding present.'
There was something like relief in his laughter. 'So the estate that was taken as a dowry will be restored as a dowry. Very fitting!'
Looking across the lake, Lee asked, 'Is it safe to go back now?'
'I'm going to swim across to find out. Will you be all right here for a little while?'
At Lee's nod Max sprang across the stallion's back to urge the horse into the water. Lee followed him to the edge and tried to wash off some of the smoke arid grime, using a flounce torn from her petticoat. There really wasn't much of the pretty Tyrolean costume left now, she realised sadly.
After about twenty minutes Max splashed back on to the island, his chest blackened by charred wood. 'We should be able to make it. I had to move some debris out of the way, but I think we will be safe enough if we can get through the ride.'
As he lifted her gently on to the horse's back, Lee looked down at him, her heart full of love and pride, but then she was swept with a strong feeling almost of fear so that she clung to his hand.
'Lee, what is it?'
'Nothing.' She shook her head. 'It's just that I'm so happy and I was suddenly afraid that something might —might happen to spoil it:'
'Nothing is going to happen, Liebchen,' he said softly, then added with a grin, 'Not when you have a king- sized moron to protect you!'
Lee laughed. 'Oh, dear! Will you ever forgive me for that?'
'I might. But only after you've atoned quite a lot, of course,' he added with a look that brought a blush to her cheeks.
He swam along beside them across the lake, then led the stallion into the entrance of the ride; the tree he had shifted out of the way lay to one side and Lee saw that it must have taken all his considerable strength to move it, even charred and blackened as it was. Ashes lay inches deep on the ground and sent up puffs of acrid soot beneath the stallion's hooves as Max led them slowly along.
It made Prinz sneeze and Lee stroked him gently. 'Never mind, little dog, you'll soon be safe with your master.'
Max turned his head at her voice and for a long moment their eyes met and held, the knowledge of the fiery hell that had so nearly claimed them strong in their minds.
More fallen branches impeded their progress, but Max's powerful muscles lifted them easily out of the way, but once he gave a gasp of pain as he unknowingly went to lift a branch that was still smouldering.
'Have you hurt yourself? Let me look.'
'It's nothing.'
'Don't be silly, Max, let me look at it.'
He lifted his hand to show a large burn on his palm. Tearing off the last remnants of her petticoat, Lee fashioned a pad to protect the wound and tied it securely in place. Silently he nodded his thanks and they proceeded on their way along the ride. They came out of the forest at last, much higher up than where Lee had entered the previous afternoon, and she suddenly realised that it was going to be a beautiful day. The wind had gone completely and the sun shone brightly down on the sheep and cattle in the fields, their bells sending a cheerful cacophony ringing through the hills. It all looked so peaceful; just as if the fire had never been.
Slipping the reins over his arm, Max raised his hands to his mouth and sent a yodelling cry echoing down into the valley. Immediately there was an answering call and soon several figures came in sight, running towards them. Shouts of delight and relief reached their ears long before the men were near enough to be recognisable. One of the first was the young groom, Franz, but he stopped short when he saw them, a mixture of shock and horror clearly written on his face. Lee realised that they must look a dreadful sight; Max was black from head to toe and, although she had washed herself at the lake, the clouds of soot had made her filthy again, her clothes were beyond recognition and her face, arms and legs were cut and scratched from where she had fallen. There was also a large bump on her head that ached abominably.
Everything seemed to happen at once then. She heard Max's voice giving orders and he lifted her down and carried her across the meadow to a lane and a waiting car. Someone tried to take Prinz from her, but she clung grimly to him; she had saved him for Rudi and she intended to part with him to no one else. When the car drew up in the lovely courtyard of the Schloss, Anna von Reistoven and Rudi were there waiting. Rudi came scurrying across, the biggest grin on his face Lee had ever seen. With a little smile she handed him the puppy. He gave her a big, sloppy kiss and went dashing off out of the castle, excitedly shouting the news.
Anna ran first to Max and held him close, tears of relief in her eyes. Then she turned to Lee, her arms outstretched. 'Gott sei Dank, you are both safe! But you must be exhausted. Max, take her to her room quickly. Frau Muller, ring for the Doctor. Run ahead and prepare a bath, Trudi.'
Lee could have walked to her room, but Max insisted on carrying her and she definitely wasn't going to argue. Languorously she turned her face into his bare neck. The scent of wood smoke still clung to his skin and she knew that she would never again smell the aroma without remembering this moment. Then she was in her room and Max was gone, leaving the women fussing round her. Stepping into the bath was a small hell of pain, but Trudi helped her and it felt good to be clean again and to have ointment smeared on her cuts and grazes. The doctor dressed them for her and gently felt the bump on her head. 'I'll give you something to take the pain away and make you sleep,' he told her.
Nodding obediently, Lee took the pills he gave her. Exhaustion overcame her and she fell asleep, but instead of dreaming happily of Max, strange visions began to torture her mind; she was back in the fire, Max was riding off and leaving her. She cried out to him, but he wouldn't listen, wouldn't come back. She awoke, screaming, to find Anna von Reistoven beside her, holding her tightly in her arms.
'It's all right, Lee, you're quite safe now. The danger is all past, my poor child.'
Slowly Lee came back to reality and clung shamelessly to Anna, shudders of fear still shaking her and beads of perspiration running down her flushed face. Trudi brought her a cool drink, and she lay back against the pillows still gripping Anna's hand tightly. But she was too afraid that she would have another dream to go to sleep again for a long time.
When next she awoke the curtains were open and bright sunlight filled the room, little dust motes hovering in the shafts of light. For a puzzled moment she thought that she must be in the garden, for there was a strong scent of flowers in the air. Lifting her head, she looked round and saw vases and bowls of flowers everywhere. Lee smiled happily, knowing who had sent them and the message that went with them, Quickly she got up and was about to start dressing, but Anna poked her head round the door and firmly ordered her back to bed.
'No, Trudi will bring you some food and I'll stay and keep you company.'
The older woman stayed with her, talking gently. 'We didn't know that you had even left the festival until Herr Gruber became worried because
you hadn't telephoned again. He contacted Max and told him what had happened, so Max drove up here straightaway. He found you and the mare gone and the postern gate open. One look at the skyline was enough to send him galloping after you. Gott sei Dank, he found you! But I'm telling you what you must already know. Max must have told you all this when you were on your little island.'
'No, he didn't. Er—he was busy putting out all the sparks, you see.' Lee found herself flushing and hastily lowered her head.
'Ah, yes, I understand.' There was amusement in Anna's voice until she went on more seriously, 'Well, Max met Rudi on the way and sent him to raise the alarm while he went to look for you. All the men from the village came and tried to help, but the fire was burning so fiercely that it couldn't be contained. We could only hope that Max's knowledge of the forest would save you. It was the longest night I have ever spent in my life!'
'Oh, Frau von Reistoven!' Impulsively Lee kissed her hostess, knowing how afraid she must have been, what terrible pictures must have been chasing through her mind all the time Max was missing.
For a moment they clung together until Anna said, 'But this won't do. We are being silly women. You are both safe, and you must eat and recover your strength. It has been a great shock to you, I know.' She settled Lee into the bed and tucked her in. 'Ah, here's Trudi with your food. I must go and see Max. I have an idea he may have something very important to tell me,' she added mischievously before kissing Lee lightly on the forehead and going quietly from the room.
Trudi hovered by her as she ate, excitedly telling Lee how they had almost been given up for dead. 'Everyone said it was very foolish of Herr von Reistoven to go after you,' she chattered on, Lee only half listening. She was longing to see Max, yearning to feel his arms round her again and know that it was really true, that the miracle had happened and she was going to be his wife.
'They said that he would never find you,' Trudi went on, and after more in this vein, added, 'But perhaps, now that he has saved your life, you will sell him the Chalet Alpenrose. Then the Government will give him a great deal of money so that they can build the new Autobahn through the valley, and Herr von Reistoven will build the new hotel he plans and…'
'What—what did you say?' Lee murmured, her brain only just taking in what the maid had said.
Trudi broke off and put her hand to her mouth in dismay. 'Oh, I'm sorry! Herr von Reistoven said I mustn't tell any… I shouldn't have said that. I must go back to the kitchen now.' Agitatedly she turned to hurry to the door.
"Trudi! Come back!' Lee was out of bed and had caught her by the wrist. 'Trudi, you said that Max— that Herr von Reistoven planned to build a hotel on the site of the Chalet Alpenrose? That there was going to be a road cut through the valley? Is this true?'
The girl mumbled something in her own language and tried to pull away, her eyes not meeting Lee's.
'Trudi, you must tell me the truth. You've got to!' Lee said desperately, her heart sick with fear—fear that her happiness was about to fall in ruins round her feet.
Slowly the maid said, 'Yes, it's true, but please don't tell Herr von Reistoven I told you. No one else knows. It was only because I overheard him talking on the telephone.'
"What did he say?' Lee asked urgently. 'Please, Trudi, you must try and remember exactly what he said. Do you understand?'
The maid nodded, frightened by Lee's vehemence. 'It was before you came to. Ausbach but after Herr Canning had died. Herr von Reistoven came into his study to answer the telephone when I was cleaning the windows. He didn't see me because I was partly hidden by the curtain. I think the call was from his solicitor in Vienna, because he mentioned Herr Linz who comes here sometimes.'
'Yes, yes, but what did he say?' Lee urged her.
'He said that Herr Canning had died and that the solicitor was to find out the terms of his will and try to buy back the Chalet Alpenrose estate. Then he listened for a little while to the other man, then he said, 'It will give us the land we need to complete the toll road. The government will have to give us a percentage of every toll and we will have the franchise for the only hotel and garage. It will make a vast profit.' Trudi paused. 'That is the translation, you understand, but my English is very good, I think.'
'Yes, Trudi,' Lee said dully. 'Your English is extremely good.' She turned away. 'Will you take the tray away, please, I don't feel hungry any more.'
Relieved to get off so lightly, the maid picked up the tray but hesitated at the door. 'Please, Fraulein, you will not tell Herr von Reistoven that I have told you? When he saw me by the window he made me promise not to tell anyone.'
'No, I won't tell him.' Trudi hurried from the room and Lee crossed to the window to gaze out at the now familiar scene. The sun still shone brilliantly, but for her the warmth had gone out of the day. She had been such a fool, such a blind, gullible fool! She ought to have known that someone in Max's position would never offer to marry her for herself alone I All he had wanted, had ever wanted, had been the Alpenrose estate, because it was worth a small fortune to him. Without it the pieces of land oh either side would be useless; with it he had full bargaining power. And even without the tolls from the road, a hotel situated in the chalet's position, in the most beautiful part of the valley, would be an extremely successful business venture in itself. No wonder he had fought so hard to get it, she thought bitterly. How furious he must have been when she wouldn't sell to him, and how even angrier when she had taunted him with her ability to fight him in the courts through Richard.
So then he had got desperate, decided that the only way to get what he wanted was to take her as well. And she, poor lovesick fool, had played right into his hands, she realised with bitter self-irony. Oh, he had been very clever about it, taking her to the opera and being charming to her one moment, and then making her jealous by flirting with Katrina the next. And when he had seen her reaction he had played on it, sometimes being attentive to her, sometimes keeping out of her way so that she was always unsure of herself. She realised now that he could easily have told her of Katrina's engagement, but he had deliberately let her go on thinking that it was he who was engaged to the Austrian girl, probably hoping that she would give up hope, sell him the chalet and go home. And how close she had come to doing just that! Then he would never have had to sacrifice himself by marrying her, she told herself with savage self-contempt.
And when he had kissed her during the fire? When he had held her close and told her he loved her? Were those, too, all lies? Lee closed her eyes and gripped the window frame until her fingers hurt. No, perhaps some of it had been true, because he wanted her, she knew. Perhaps to possess her sexually would be an added bonus on top of everything else! It was easy to see now why he had been so quick to ask her about the chalet before they had left the island, and she had so happily —so besottedly!—said exactly what he had wanted to hear. Unable to bear her own thoughts, Lee turned away from the window, her eyes dark with hurt and self-reproach.
Slowly she began to dress, not caring what she put on, while her numbed brain tried to sort out what she was going to do. Lingeringly she touched a piece of old furniture and an exquisite ornament. How quickly she had come to love this place, to feel secure within the warmth of its protecting walls and to delight in its treasures which were such an intrinsic part of the whole. It would be hard to leave, but impossible to stay. That she couldn't stay was obvious, but how to get away without having to face Max? For she never wanted to see him again; not now, not when she knew him willing to do anything for money and power, even go so far as to sell himself.
As she bent to put on her shoes, Trudi knocked and came in.
'Fraulein, there is a visitor for you,' she said, her face alight with curiosity. 'His name is Herr Derrington. He is waiting in the small library.'
Lee stared at her. Richard! Richard here! 'Thank you, Trudi, I'll come at once.' Then she added quickly, 'You needn't bother to tell Herr von Reistoven.'
As she hurried down the corridors and
stairs, Lee's heart began to beat wildly. She knew why Richard was here, of course. He had come in answer to her letter breaking off their engagement. But could she ask him to help her now? Help her to get away from the Schloss without seeing Max? Pushing open the library door, she paused uncertainly in the doorway. Richard turned from examining the bookshelves and faced her. He looked so familiar, so safe. Lee pushed the door shut behind her and ran across the room to bury herself in the haven of his arms.
'Oh, Richard!' She knew he would comfort and take care of her, and that she needed more than anything right now.
'Lee! What is it?' He saw her eyes like two dark, burnt-out embers in her desolate face. 'Why, you're shaking. What the hell have these people done to you?' His voice was so full of concern that Lee could have put her head on his shoulder and wept, but she bit her lip and stood away from him.
'Oh, Richard, I'm so glad to see you, you've come at just the right time. I need your help so badly.'
'Do you?' His voice was colder now. 'I rather gathered from your letter that I was the last person you wanted.'
'I know, and I'm sorry.' She looked at him with unshed tears sparkling on the end of her lashes and said quiveringly, 'But you see, I—I fell in love with someone.' He had become very still and she touched his hand gently. 'I'm sorry, Richard, I tried not to… I didn't want…' she broke off miserably.
'Who is it?' he asked at last.
'It doesn't matter who it was, because it's all over. It never really got off the ground, and—and I'd like to leave here now as quickly as possible. If you'll help me, please.'
'You'd better tell me what's happened,' Richard said grimly.
'Yes, I will, later. But first I want you to make out a deed of gift. You can do that in Austria, can't you?' Lee asked anxiously.
'Why, yes, but
Sally Wentworth - King of the Castle Page 16