Free Blood Royal by Dornford Yates

Duchess did not appear, I told George to sound the horn.
    He did so, and, after a little, he did so again.
    The Duke lifted up his voice.
    “Leonie!” he bawled. “Leonie!”
    There was no reply, and, after waiting a minute, I entered the house quickly and passed upstairs.
    The doors of the cells were open, except, of course, that behind which the chauffeur lay, but, though I looked into each, they were empty enough.
    As I stood in the passage, frowning, a cool draught of air made itself felt…
    At once I ran to the stair at the farther end and, hardly knowing why I did so, began to descend the steps.
    The Grand Duchess was standing in the doorway that gave to the fields, leaning against the old jamb, with her eyes on the sunlit meadows, as though she was deep in thought.
    “The – the car is ready,” I said.
    She neither spoke nor turned, but she put out a little hand.
    I do not think the man is born that could have withstood such a gesture of such a maid.
    I know I came to her quickly and put her hand to my lips.
    Then I looked up to meet her eyes.
    “I think you must hate me,” she said.
    In that moment my world was changed.
    Everything I knew and cared for – my friends, my home, my horses, the open air and the sunlight, all that made up my life seemed suddenly dependent for their value upon her smile.
    “Oh, my dear,” I said, and could have bitten my tongue.
    She did not seem to see my confusion, for she had lowered her eyes, and, on a sudden impulse, again I kissed her hand.
    I looked up to find her smiling.
    “You take refuge in deeds,” she said.
    Then she put her hands behind her and leaned back against the wall.
    “Paul’s not out of the wood,” she said quietly. “Even at Vigil he won’t be out of the wood. Not until he is proclaimed. And in need I – we have no one to help us as you have done. Supposing…where could I find you?”
    “At Vigil,” said I. “You shall have the address tonight.”
    She stood very still.
    “I – I didn’t mean that,” she said.
    “I know. I’d like to be – in the background.”
    “I – I didn’t mean that either,” she said.
    “I know that,” said I.
    She turned and looked over the meadows and up at the bluff.
    “Will you promise to be careful?” she said. And then, “I heard what Grieg said.”
    “I will do anything you ask me,” I said unsteadily.
    The Grand Duchess drew in her breath.
    “Just now you spoke of the background… If I let you stay in the background – would you…understand?”
    “Yes,” said I.
    She looked round swiftly.
    “Perhaps you will – one day,” she said.

4:  At the Sign of ‘The Square of Carpet’
    I suppose I had heard of Vigil, but I had never met one who had been there or seen, so far as I remember, its name in print: and, while that is nothing to go by, for I am not well informed, I have since referred to the guide-books to find the city dismissed with half a line. This is to me a mystery, for, though, perhaps, of little importance, Vigil is more attractive than many a well-known resort, and I can only suppose that the singular absence of any kind of hotel has stifled again and again its claim to renown.
    The town lies among mountains upon either side of a river which flows very swift, and, if you approach from the East, you will suddenly see it beneath you, spread out like a map and resembling those fabulous cities that painters raised in their backgrounds five hundred years ago.
    Now, when we first saw it, George and I were afoot, as well as alone, and so were able to loiter as long as we pleased.
    The Rolls had gone on to Vigil, with the servants upon her front seat. I had thought this arrangement a wise one, and George had agreed. Four miles from the city, therefore, the change had been made, and, almost before our guests knew it, the servants had taken our places, and we were out in the road.
    The Duke sat still, but the Grand Duchess started up with a little cry.
    “I beg you’ll excuse us,”