The Duke Comes Home

Ilina could only feel the violent, frantic beating of her heart and that the room was filled with a blinding light that came from the sky and yet was a part of the Duke and herself.

He drew a little closer to her but did not touch her, and after a moment he said: "I suppose it was inevitable that I should fall in love with you. The past is all vanished, and all I am concerned about now is the future -- yours and mine, Ilina."

Then, very gently, he put his arms around her and drew her closer to him. He put his fingers under her chin and turned her face up to his.

"I love you," he said. "I have to know, my beautiful darling, what you feel about me."

He did not wait for a reply, and his mouth came down on hers....