Never Laugh at love

‘I-I was watching the monkey,” she said quickly.

“And wishing your sisters were with you!”

Anthea did not reply and after a moment he said with a faint laugh,

“I must admit it is the first time in my life that I have been alone with a lady who was pining for the company of someone else!”

“Did I sound rude?” Anthea asked in consternation. “You know I have liked being with you. It has been very exciting and I have loved all that you have told me.”

She looked at him anxiously, as she went on,

“Although you are perhaps annoyed about what happened on the battlefield, to me it was a very moving experience to be there with – you.”

She spoke very earnestly and for once she was not laughing or even smiling.

“I too have liked being with you, Anthea,” the Duke replied in his deep voice.

“Have you really?” Anthea asked. “You see, I have been very much afraid of boring you. You are so experienced. You have lived such a full life, while I have done nothing!”

“But you have thought and felt,” the Duke said. “I realised when we were on the battlefield and you were thinking of your father that you were capable of deep feelings.”

“I loved Papa,” Anthea answered, “but I was not only thinking of him. I was thinking of those other men who died and how their wives, their mothers and their sweethearts must have wept at their loss.”

“As I have just said, you can feel, Anthea. That is very important. Most women do not feel very deeply about anything.”

“Perhaps that’s true of the women you know,” Anthea added. “But when Papa was killed, part of Mama died too. They loved each other so much. One had only to see them together to know what love is like.”

“And that is what you hoped to find!” the Duke said.

Anthea looked away from him.

“I suppose – everyone has secret – dreams.”

“And yours have been spoilt by me. I am sorry, Anthea.”

Anthea gave herself a little shake and suddenly her dimples re-appeared.

Most women do not feel very deeply about anything.”

Thais turned Dobbin’s head homeward and they set off moving slowly because it was quite a load for the old horse.