The Rebel Rose; A Novel Volume 2 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1888 edition. Excerpt: ...him too imperiously. There was an iron hand, she knew, beneath the velvet glove. The heart that beat under that caressing manner could be steel at times. She would wind her meshes more closely round him. She would make herself necessary to him. She would not resent even his attentions to Mary Beaton. Her woman s craft got the better of her woman s impulse. He should not dream that she suspected him--that she had played the spy. She told herself that she understood the reason why he had dallied at Stonehenge Park. He did not wish to appear too eager. It would not be wise to let Bellarmin imagine that the trap had been laid and baited, and that he was to be secured forthwith. She told herself all this. Nevertheless, she wrote to Champion a letter, which should meet him in London---a letter, in its earlier pages, more political than personal, ignoring the fact that he had not told her of his proposed visit to Lord Stonehenge, but taking for granted that he had accepted the invitation in order to gain a good opportunity of getting at Bellarmin s views. Bellarmin s adhesion obtained, and with it the chance of his band being augmented by other Democratic Tories, and also the adhesion of the extreme Radical or Tressel Party; then the Whig section, in the person of her husband, might be cautiously attacked. Lady Saxon gauged the situation with a keenness and grasp that might have been envied by many a trained politician. She threw out subtle suggestions, showing a man s courage and a woman s finesse. She gave adroit hints concerning the wires by which certain of the political puppets might be pulled to his side. He should see clearly that her influence was far-reaching, that her assistance was not to be...