Mistress Dearmer pouted, but the laugh was against her until Fellowes came to the rescue. "You shall have a sonnet," he said. "You may pay if you think it worthy." Another woman caught Sir Philip's hand and whispered, "The poetry could hardly be so bad as the kisses are cheap, could it?" Lord Rosmore and his host had walked to the end of the terrace talking confidentially. "I should have said more, but you came to interrupt us," Sir John replied in answer to a question from his companion. "You can force her to do as you wish," said Rosmore. "Indeed, if necessary, you must." "How?" "You are her guardian. If your powers are limited, that is no reason you should tell her so." "You seem strangely doubtful about your own powers, Rosmore, yet rumour has it that few women are proof against you." "She may be one of the few, that is why you have spoken to her. I want her more than I have ever wanted anything on earth. You--well, if all else fails, you must force her to marry me." "There is another alternative," and Sir John stopped and drew himself up stiffly. "I don't think you would take it," Rosmore answered carelessly. "I should not advise you to take it." "She spoke of grey eyes," said Sir John, as though he were disinclined to argue the point. "She has thought of some man with grey eyes." "Tell me all she said--it may be useful," and for some minutes Rosmore listened attentively while Sir John talked. "I have more than one way of wooing," Rosmore said presently, "and my love must condone them all. The siege shall begin forthwith. A man may win any woman if he is subtle enough; in that conviction lies the secret of the success with which rumour credits me. I may persuade your niece to believe my eyes are grey, or perchance charm her into hating grey eyes henceforth. Where shall I find her, Sir John?" "Probably in the Nun's Room." "No place for so desirable a lady, and surely a strange room to have in Aylingford Abbey," laughed Rosmore. "There are many strange things about Aylingford which Mistress Barbara must never discover." Sir John laughed, a forced laugh with a curse underneath it, and his hands tightened a little as he watched his guest go quickly along the terrace. CHAPTER IV THE NUN OF AYLINGFORD