She did not reply, and he turned on his heel and walked away from her. When he came back again she had not stirred from her former position; her hands were still clasped tightly together, her head was bent.
“If you mean to defy me,” said Tarbot, “you had better know the truth. I can be terrible, cruel, dangerous to those who thwart me.”
“I won’t defy you,” she said then, making a sort of gasping sound as she spoke. She crouched away from him, and going up to the mantelpiece leant her elbow on it. Tarbot again paced up and down the room. After a time he came up to his wife and spoke in his usual tone.
“I go to Devonshire to-morrow. I shall remain there for a day or two.”
“I shall put up at the inn at Great Pelham.”
“But the Pelhams will think it strange. They will probably invite you to stay with them.”
“They may invite, but I shall not accept.”
“What do you mean to do when you go to Devonshire?” said Clara.
“I don’t mind telling you. I shall see Mrs. Pelham and acquaint her with the discovery I have made with regard to the medicine which was last given to Piers. She must be the one to deal with the matter. She will deal with it because I shall force her to, but she must take the initiative. In all probability she will come back to London, she may even want to see you. When she comes you will know what to say to her, Clara. Remember, I trust you. I shall leave here by an early train in the morning. I am going out now to arrange with my _locum tenens_.”
“Dr. Dayrell. He will stay here, and will see my patients until I return.”
Tarbot left the room, and Clara found herself alone. She still stood near the fire. Something glittered in her eye. She raised a cobwebby lace handkerchief to wipe it away—it was a tear. Then she sank into the nearest chair.
“I have heard the truth at last,” she said to herself. “I shall never win his love. He has paid me what he considers a good price—he has made me his lawful wife. To the longest day he lives, unless I die first, I shall be his wife. He is rich and great, and I can share both his riches and his greatness, only I never married him for them. He will not believe me, but it is true. He thinks that for the sake of riches and greatness I shall be his tool and accomplice, but with all his cleverness he has not read my woman’s heart. If he loved me I would go with him wherever he chose to lead, but as he doesn’t love me, I am undecided—love like mine has been known to change to hate. If such a thing should happen, Luke Tarbot had better beware.”