The Love Child

He took off his golden wig. He was, as I had thought hi Jocelyn’s case, more handsome without it. His short hair curled about his head, and he looked younger, less sinister.

But when he came to the table and I saw him clearly, I was aware of a fanatical gleam in his eyes.

“Look at me,” he said. “Look closely.”

He put his fingers to his brow and I saw the scar from the roots of his hair almost extending to his eyebrow. This had been hidden by the curled wig.

“You see this,” he explained. “I received it in Venice. The night after the Duchessa’s ball. You may remember it.”

I stared at him. I knew that my hopes of getting out of this house unscathed had completely gone. He wanted more than my body. He wanted revenge.

“It was a frolic,” he went on. “A light adventure. A young girl … made for love … unawakened, I thought, adorably innocent. I would initiate her into the ways of love. There would be nothing rough about it.”

“Nothing rough,” I cried. “You dragged me from the ball. I was covered in bruises.

And you say nothing rough.”

“I would have been tender to you. You would have been in love with me before the night was out,”

“You have too high an opinion of your powers and no knowledge at all of me.”

“I learned a great deal about you, my prim Priscilla. This man came to rescue you.

He took you from me and threw me into the canal. That was not all. The next night he came. I do not care for this kind of brawl. He had me at a disadvantage. This is not the only scar I have to show you. He prated about innocent girls … his little sister … still in the schoolroom … innocent virgin … and so on.”

“It was a wicked thing you tried to do.”

“And for it I am marked for life. And then I discovered the truth.”

“What truth?”

“Surely you know. Our innocent virgin schoolgirl is in Venice for a purpose. She has been guilty of an indiscretion. Now young ladies are often guilty of indiscretions and sometimes they have alarming consequences. Then, if the girl is of good family, heads are put together to discover how best the little matter can be kept secret.

The Virgin of Venice was in such a position, so while I was being scarred for life for having made overtures to this saintly child, she was in Venice to bear the little bastard … the result of an adventure with one … perhaps more …”

I had risen from the table. “How dare you!” I cried. “Stop this lewd talk.”

“My dear little would-be virgin, this is my night. I call the tune. Do you remember?”

“How do you know of these matters?”

“That is unimportant. The fact is that I know. But I did not discover until afterwards.

At the time I took my punishment, thinking that perhaps it had not been undeserved.

Outraged brother … or close relation … who has doubtless had his own adventures is incensed because someone might wish for a similar adventure with his sister. We understand. And then to learn that the girl is nothing but a little harlot… and at her age!”

“It’s untrue.”

“No, it is not, my dear. I learned all I wanted to know. Oh, I had a very good informant.”

“Who was it?”

“That would be telling. The child was born and your good friend, Lady Stevens, pretended it was hers. What a drama! But that does not concern me. What does is that my prim little harlot was posing as an innocent young girl.”

This was becoming more and more like a nightmare. I heard myself saying: “I was going to be married. He died …”

“Yes,” he said, “they always do. So inconsiderate of them. They might wait until after the ceremony before they die. It saves so much trouble.”

“I can see it is no use talking to you.”

“The time for talking is past. Let me fill your glass. Let us drink to the night.

I am not sorry. You and I will have much to give each other, I am sure.”

“I shall give you hatred and contempt.”

“Well, that can be very interesting. How angry you are! And surprised, too. It has put a colour into your cheeks, like the roses with which you are so delicately scented.

They come from Bulgaria where they are the very best. If I had time I would show you my laboratories. The late King and I shared an interest in them … only he was more interested in pills. We had many interests in common perhaps the chief was the delights of love. He was a connoisseur, God rest him. But no more so than I, you will discover. You shiver. Is that meant to be with repulsion? I promise you, you shall shiver with delight.”

“I could never delight in you. You have done nothing but insult me from the time I saw you.”

“And in return you deceived me …at first that is. A naughty little girl, pregnant, and posing as an innocent child. Who would have believed it! You owe me something for that and for this”-he pointed to the scar-“and for the other which I shall show you. But come, eat. This is the finest venison, captured in my woods. And drink.”

“Anything at your table nauseates me.”

“I think you are dreading what is to come.”

“I should not be here were it not for my father.”

“You will discover that you have never had a lover such as you will have tonight.”