Miss Holland, the beautiful and much-admired mistress of the Duke of Norfolk, was alone in her magnificently adorned boudoir. It was the hour when ordinarily the duke was wont to be with her; for this reason she was charmingly attired, and had wrapped herself in that light and voluptuous negligee which the duke so much liked, because it set off to so much advantage the splendid form of his friend.
But to-day the expected one did not make his appearance: in his stead his valet had just come and brought the fair miss a note from his master. This note she was holding in her hand, while with passionate violence she now walked up and down her boudoir. Aglowing crimson blazed upon her cheeks, and her large, haughty eyes darted wild flashes of wrath.
She was disdained--she, Lady Holland, was forced to endure the disgrace of being dismissed by her lover.
There, there, in that letter which she held in her hand, and which burned her fingers like red-hot iron--there it stood in black and white, that he would see her no more; that he renounced her love;that he released her.
Her whole frame shook as she thought of this. It was not the anguish of a loving heart which made her tremble; it was the wounded pride of the woman.
He had abandoned her. Her beauty, her youth no longer had the power to enchain him--the man with white hairs and withered features.
He had written her that he was satiated and weary, not of her, but only of love in general; that his heart had become old and withered like his face: and that there was still in his breast no more room for love, but only for ambition.
Was not that a revolting, an unheard-of outrage--to abandon the finest woman in England for the sake of empty, cold, stern ambition?
She opened the letter once more. Once more she read that place. Then grinding her teeth with tears of anger in her eyes: "He shall pay me for this! I will take vengeance for this insult!" She thrust the letter into her bosom, and touched the silver bell.
"Have my carriage brought round!" was her order to the servant who entered; and he withdrew in silence.
"I will avenge myself!" muttered she, as with trembling hands she wrapped herself in her large Turkish shawl. "I will avenge myself;and, by the Eternal! it shall be a bloody and swift vengeance! Iwill show him that I, too, am ambitious, and that my pride is not to be humbled. He says he will forget me. Oh, I will compel him to think of me, even though it be only to curse me!"With hasty step she sped through the glittering apartments, which the liberality of her lover had furnished so magnificently, and descended to the carriage standing ready for her.
"To the Duchess of Norfolk's!" said she to the footman standing at the door of the carriage, as she entered it.
The servant looked at her in astonishment and inquiringly.
"To the Duke of Norfolk; is it not, my lady?""No, indeed, to the duchess!" cried she with a frown, as she leaned back on the cushion.
After a short time, the carriage drew up before the palace of the duchess, and with haughty tread and commanding air she passed through the porch.
"Announce me to the duchess immediately," was her order to the lackey who was hurrying to meet her.
"Your name, my lady?"
"Miss Arabella Holland."
The servant stepped back, and stared at her in surprise.
"Miss Arabella Holland! and you order me to announce you to the duchess?"A contemptuous smile played a moment about the thin lips of the beautiful miss. "I see you know me," said she, "and you wonder a little to see me here. Wonder as much as you please, good friend;only conduct me immediately to the duchess.
I doubt whether her ladyship receives calls to-day," stammered the servant, hesitatingly.
"Then go and ask; and, that I may learn her answer as soon as possible, I will accompany you."With a commanding air, she motioned to the servant to go before her;and he could not summon up courage to gainsay this proud beauty.
In silence they traversed the suite of stately apartments, and at length stood before a door hung with tapestry.
"I must beg you to wait here a moment, my lady, so that I can announce you to the duchess, who is there in her boudoir.""No, indeed; I will assume that office myself," said Miss Holland, as with strong hand she pushed back the servant and opened the door.
The duchess was sitting at her writing-table, her back turned to the door through which Arabella had entered. She did not turn round;perhaps she had not heard the door open. She continued quietly writing.
Miss Arabella Holland with stately step crossed the room, and now stood close to the chair of the duchess.
"Duchess, I would like to speak with you," said she, coolly and calmly.
The duchess uttered a cry and looked up. "Miss Holland!" cried she amazed, and hastily rising. "Miss Holland! you here with me, in my house! What do you want here? How dare you cross my threshold?""I see you still hate me, my lady," said Arabella, smiling. "You have not yet forgiven me that the duke, your husband, found more delight in my young, handsome face, than in yours, now growing old--that my sprightly, wanton disposition pleased him better than your cold, stately air."The duchess turned pale with rage, and her eyes darted lightning.
