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DORIAN CAMOYS STOOD, trapped, in his own library

Less than a fortnight had passed since the duc d’Abonville had turned up at the door

Now the Frenchman was back—with a special license and a female he insisted Dorian marry forthwith

Dorian could have dealt with the Frenchh Unfortunately, along with Lady Peirl Dorian had not yet , Abonville had also brought his future grandson, Bertie Trent

And Bertie had got it into his head that he would stand as his friend’s groomsman

When Bertie got soet it out This was because Bertie Trent was one of the stupidest nized, was the reason Bertie was the only friend he’d ever had—and one whose childlike feelings Dorian couldn’t bear to hurt

It was i not to distress Bertie, as so thrilled about his best friendhis favorite female cousin

“It’s only Gwen,” Bertie was saying,the issues, as usual “She ain’t half bad, for a girl Not like Jess—but I shouldn’t wish h you’d beworse than a fellow having to listen to her the live-long day Not but what Dain can er than you, and even so, I daresay he’s got his hands full Still, they’re already shackled, so you’re safe from her, and Gwen ain’t like her at all When Abonville told us you anting to getGould suit, I said—”

“Bertie, I wasn’t wanting to get married,” Dorian broke in “It is a ridiculous mistake”

“I have made no mistake,” said Abonville He stood before the door, his distinguished countenance stern, his arave your word, cousin You said you recognized your duty, and you wouldto have you”

“It doesn’t htly “I had a headache when you came, and had taken laudanum I was not in my senses at the time”

“You were fully rational”

“I could not have been!” Dorian snapped “I should never have agreed to such a thing if I had I’!”

That was a ht, Cat,” he said “I’ll stick by you, like you always stuck by me But you must have promised, or Abonville wouldn’t have said you did, and talked to Gwen And she’ll be awful disappointed—not but what she’ll get over it, not being thesort But only think hoe could be cousins, and if you was to odfather, you know”

Dorian bent aHe’d filled Bertie’s head with the kinds of ideas he was sure to set his childish heart on: standing as grooodfather to iinary children

And poor Bertie, his heart bursting with good intentions, would never understand why it was impossible He would never comprehend why Dorian needed to die alone

“I’ll stick by you,” he’d said—and Bertie would If Dorian wouldn’t wed his cousin, Bertie would stay Either way, Dorian wouldn’t stand a chance They would never let him die in peace

Once Dorian was no longer capable of thinking for himself, Bertie—or Abonville or the ould call in experts to deal with the madman

And Dorian knehere that would lead: he would die as his ed like an animalunless he killed himself first

But he would not be hurried to his grave He still had tith for every precious moment they remained

He told himself to calm down He was not trapped It only seemed that ith loyal, diodchildren, and Abonville on the other, blocking the door

Dorian was not yet weak and helpless, as hisas he kept a cool head

HALF AN HOUR later, Dorian was galloping along the narrow track that led to Hags, because the ruse had worked

It had been easy enough to feign a sudden attack of rerandfather, Dorian had no trouble appearing penitent, and grateful for Abonville’s efforts And so, when Dorian requested a few uests had exited the library

So had he—out the , through the garden, then down to the stables at a run

He knew they wouldn’t pursue hiroom wouldn’t venture onto the tortuous path this day, with stor overhead