She spoke through shut teeth. "Unless I am much mistaken, señor, you will not say so for long." "I am sure you are much mistaken, sweet cousin," he returned, and laughed again. She pressed her lips together, and rode on in silence. After a while Don Diego leaned towards her, and took her bridle from the man who held it. "Let me be your escort, child." "I appear to have little choice, señor." They rode on ahead of the troop. "You drove me to it, Dominica," Don Diego said softly. She gave a short laugh at that. Now she could despise him to the full. A man who would apologise for his villainy, whine at it! "Holy Virgin!" she ejaculated. "Is that your excuse, cousin?" "My love for you!" he said, flushing at the contempt in her voice. "A rare love, by my faith!" "It brooks no hindrance. I am desperate for you. You shall not think harshly of me." "I shall not think of you at all," she replied. "You are of no account." His brows drew close over his nose. "I shall show you otherwise, Dominica." She yawned. "You scorn me," he said, "but I love you. You have flouted me, given me sharp words, and cold looks, but I have you now by the strong hand." Her eyes flashed; her lip curled. "The strong hand! Yours!" She flicked at it with her glove. "My God, I could match you a strong hand which would put yours to shame!" He coloured. "You betray yourself, Dominica. Was Beauvallet's hand so strong then? Did it keep him from capture, and will it keep him from the stake?" She looked disdainful. "You rave. You are ridiculous. Mother of God, but you sicken me!" "You will not long say so," he answered. "What, am I to be rid of you then? I give thanks for a happy deliverance." He sneered at her. "Who shall deliver you, señorita? Your fine Beauvallet, so neatly caught and prisoned? You will grow weary of waiting for him, believe me." "I do, very easily, señor," she returned lightly. "But I make no doubt the Chevalier de Guise would be happy to serve me were he free." "Very clever," he said, "but I sprang your secret the night he was taken. Why persist in this pretence?" She shrugged. "If you have a maggot in your brain, cousin, I see no reason why I should share it." She turned her head. "I suppose this to be a plot of my aunt's?" "Dear cousin, give honour where it is due. The plot is mine alone." "You amaze me, señor, I had not thought you possessed the stomach for so hardy a deed." "I am not so spiritiess as you think, perhaps," he said quickly. "If you are happy to be with freebooters you should like this exploit." "Given any other man to be the abductor, señor, I might," she conceded. He jerked his shoulder up. "You gain nothing by such talk, cousin."