Chapter IV (excerpt)

'Ah, Mistress Mercia,' he exclaimed playfully,' what cheerful looks thou dost carry to-day, methinks thy face betokens much content — hast thou taken my words to heart, fair Lady, 'twas truly excellent advice?'

'Sire, thou saidst something concerning the sun — thou didst talk of coming to learn  more of his condition, I believe,' answered Mercia evasively.

'True,' he replied with a laugh,'I fain would know more of the sun's late vagaries: but it would please me infinitely better to learn something of thyself, dost thou never feel lonely?'

'Often enough, Sire; the hours speed away at times very quickly when I am hard at work, but when it is time to rest then the feeling of solitude overwhelms me: I get appalled at the silence that surrounds me, and a melancholy seizes me so severely that I rise unable to cope with my duties.'

'Art thou then tired of this occupation? It is indeed, too much for thee. Rest a while, sweet Mercia, and let the stars take care of themselves for a season.'

'Oh, that would spoil all my calculations; the work of years would be as naught were I to stay my hand now. No, I will wait until my treatise on the stars is complete; then I will take some little change for my health's sake.'

'Health, and Love, sweet Mercia, go hand in hand together. Let thine heart melt to its influence, and all will go well with thee. Thy melancholies will disappear; thy solitude lightened; for thou wilt have a new theory to analyse — a new and a better one.'

'Yes, thou canst love, dear Mercia, I know it; for thine eyes were made for the conquest of man's heart, rather than star-gazing. Cease to disregard the designs of Nature when she formed thee, and yield thyself to the pleasure of love.'

Mercia essayed to answer him, but her tongue refused her utterance, so great was her confusion. She blushed violently, and at last stammered out —

'Sire, I know not what answer to give in this matter — I am yet unprepared, — perplexed with this reasoning of thine.'

'Hast thou not felt the want of companionship, dear Mercia? Here penned in this solitude only fit for a greybeard thou dost pine, yet knoweth not what it is ails thee. It is good to be loved, fair one, to realise how much thy womanhood means: hast thou never felt its joys — its pains?'
 

'But my bond, Sire, I cannot break my bond, signed by my own hand, to forswear love and marriage: no one but thyself can relieve me of this obligation,' exclaimed Mercia excitedly.

'I heartily relieve thee, then, my good Mercia. I care not for the bond one iota, if that be all that's in thy way. Keep thy post as thou likest thy work so well, and enjoy the delights of love at the same time,' replied the delighted monarch, who found it most difficult to conceal his fancied triumph.

Mercia uttered a low cry of joy, and in her gratitude threw herself at his feet, then taking his willing hand in hers, she pressed it to her lips in silence, for her heart was too full for speech.

When the matter had arrived thus far, the Emperor forgetting the caution and self-restraint he had been hitherto exercising, was no longer able to contain himself; stooping down towards the kneeling girl he caught her in his arms, and in a perfect frenzy of rapture commenced to shower hot kisses on her brow, her cheeks, her lips.

Mercia was so completely taken aback by this unexpected raid, that her brain fairly reeled for a moment; then recover ins her senses she quickly wrenched herself out of his arms, and gazing on him with blanched face, she cried in a voice gasping with pain and indignation —

'What means the Emperor by this unheard of liberty? What have I done that I should be treated as a courtesan by my Sovereign?'

'A courtesan!' he repeated.' Why Mercia, I would give thee a crown if I could! Thy queenly brow was truly made for one; and by the stars, thou shalt have it yet! Yes, Mercia thou shalt share my throne and rule me, my sweet, together with mine Empire.

'Share thy throne and rule thine Empire! Surely, Sire, thou hast gone mad!'

'Yes, truly, I am mad — mad with love for thee, and thou knowest it, Mercia, else wouldst thou have kissed my hand in acknowledgment, of it?'

'In acknowledgment of the love!' she answered in strong indignant tones,' it was not so — thy love never entered my thought.'

'Whose then?' questioned Felicitas shortly.

'Geometrus,' she acknowledged bravely. But the next moment she felt she had given away both herself and him.
 

'Geometrus!' he scoffingly repeated.'And dost thou place that poltroon before me? Am I to be flouted for him?'

‘His love is honourable, and thine is not; therein lies the difference, my Sire,' she answered soothingly, with a view of bringing him to reason.

'But my love shall be made honourable, Mercia. I will get a divorce, and thou shalt fill the Empress's place — aye, and fill it far away better than she has ever done! I hate her — curse her!' And he ground his teeth in rage at the thought of his wretched inability to accomplish what he was so loudly boasting of.

'But I cannot rob another woman of her husband: I would not defraud the meanest in thy realm, much less thine Empire's highest lady.'

'It is not robbery, Mercia, she doth not own my heart, and never did! I was cozened into that marriage by my cousin Osbert — curse him — curse him for a meddling fool!'

'He, doubtless, did it for the best. The whole of thy Cabinet approved, so did the nation. It is a new thing for me to learn that our Emperor lives unhappily with his spouse — I cannot understand it.'

' I never felt the chains gall till now. Mercia. A quiet indifference kept me content until thy beauty set my heart a beating with a new joy. I knew not love till mine eyes dwelt upon thy loveliness, and mine ears listened to the words that flowed from thy lip like a sweet, rippling fountain, whose waters gave forth a pure, clear, life giving stream. Yes, I have drunk therein, and am filled with new emotions — new joys — new hopes — new life!' He clasped his hands in an ecstasy of happiness, as at that supreme moment he gave rein to the powerful impulses that swayed him.
 

Now is my beauty an evil thing, and a curse to me!' cried Mercia, at the moment bowing her head in deep dejection, and hiding her face in her hands.

'Would I had never been born, or that nature had shaped me uncomely, for then this misfortune could not have overtaken me! Two men desire me, and I may not have either. I must live in a world filled, like a garden with flowers — flowers and blossoms of love; yet I may not touch them; their fragrance is not for me; not one may I wear on my breast! Yet, they nod and beckon me to pluck them: they offer me the incense of their being, and would fain spend their full fragrance upon me; for their desire is to nestle on rny bosom, and give me the joy of their beauty and love.'

She spoke as one entranced, who ignoring all listeners felt naught of the presence of another. For the moment her anguish was her only companion, which the presence of Felicitas could not restrain. It was the bursting wail of a heart kept long in subjection and unnatural restriction, which now claimed its rights. Thus did the longing for love bring sorrow to Mercia, such sorrow as she had never before tasted.

As Felicitas gazed upon the beautiful woman standing before him in an attitude of grief and despair, her head bowed down, her arms outstretched, showing the contour of her perfect form, he felt as one in a dream —a ravishing dream that inspired every sense with a deliciousness he had never before experienced.

On his enraptured ears her words fell like the music of a poem, for the full, rich, melodious timbre of her voice lent to them a peculiar charm: their pathos melted him; their sweetness enchained him.

Seized anew with the intoxication of his passion he sank on his knees before her; his whole frame quivered with emotion, while the varying tones of his voice testified how greatly the torrent of his passion swept through his soul.

' Mercia, Mercia, give me thy love!' he cried impetuously;' take me, my beloved, spurn me no longer, for without thee I am as one dead! As a world without sun, having no life, nor warmth, I shall go on my way darkened for ever. Take me into the sun-shine of thy love; give me new life, dearest. Resuscitate and refresh me with the joy of thy beauty; and let us drink of the wine of love's pleasures for ever. Then shall we two learn how good it is to love; how sweet it is to be together; how delightful the blending of two souls made satisfied with their own companionship.'

As one in a dream Mercia listened to his passionate outpourings; she drank in his words as gratefully as the parched earth a summer's shower; but her mind was with Geometrus. In imagination she was with him, listening to the pent-up eloquence that his soft dark eyes daily expressed.
 

'It is Geometrus who speaks!' she murmured absently;' Geometrus has opened his heart to me at last!'

'Geometrus!' shouted the Emperor, almost out of his head with rage and jealousy;' it is not Geometrus — it is I, Felicitas — Felicitas thine Emperor who abjectly offers thee his love, and his crown, and sues thee, Mercia — his subject — his servant!'

Then Mercia, awakening from her love- dream began to realise her true position. For an instant she paused, and passed her hand across her brow, as if to recover her senses; then she said in a deliberate and dignified voice —
 

'Felicitas, the Emperor hath no crown to offer his subject, Mercia, for it sits already on the brow of his royal spouse; neither has he love to offer his servant, Mercia, for it is sworn to his Empress for ever. It is an insult to me, Mercia, thine offer of illicit love, and I refuse to longer remain in thy service.'

Upon hearing these words the heat of his temper suddenly cooled; he saw he had not only ruined his cause with the lady, but he was bringing upon himself public dishonour; for the reason of the resignation of their gifted and enthusiastic astronomer would be demanded by both ministers and nation alike. As she turned to leave the apartment, for she disdained having further converse with him. He forcibly caught her by the dress, with a view of detaining her.

‘Stay, Mercia, stay, and listen to me! Listen to one word more, I beseech thee. Thou shalt, for indeed I will not let thee go!' He shouted fiercely, for she was wrenching her-self out of his grasp.

Touch me not!' she exclaimed excitedly, or I will kill thee as thou standest!' and from her girdle she took a small ebony stick, electrically charged, which she wore as a kind of life-preserver, in accordance with the custom of ladies, who worked, or walked out a good deal alone.

She had reached the door, and opened it, when who should rush upon the scene but Geometrus accompanied by the Emperor's cousin, Prince Osbert, who had been seeking him for some time past.

‘What is the meaning of this?' inquired Geometrus, at the same time facing Felicitas with eyes of fire.

'I am not insulting her,' coolly rejoined the Emperor,' she has disobeyed my commands respecting some important astronomical information I required, and is endeavouring to shield her own shortcomings by getting into a rage: 'tis woman's way, but I'll have none of it.'

Then Mercia drawing herself up to her full height, exclaimed in indignant voice —

'Liar, and traitor, I despise thee! Bid thine Empress come hither, I have somewhat to tell her. As for me, I shall never receive thee here again, thou woman-betrayer! Get some other to fill my place, for I shall quit it forthwith.'

Then she turned away with haughty mien and left the apartment.