and that is exactly what I just did to you, sir. However, tomorrow is another
day, perhaps even another game of chess, and then it begins all over again. In
chess there is no ultimate victory. It is a good thing, but perhaps it is also a
very disappointing thing.”
Lawrence began to gather the chess pieces into the center of the table. He
righted his fallen king and placed it in front of the white pieces, on the
square directly opposite my black queen. He looked up into my face, his eyes
narrowed and grim, the blue so dark as to be nearly black. I forced myself to
look back at him steadily. It was he who looked away first, into the fire, and
then down at his shapely white hands. I sat perfectly still, and waited. I had
no choice at all. When he finally spoke, his voice was soft, almost pensive. “You
played with intelligence, finesse, and yes, courage, Andrea. Most unusual
characteristics for a woman. As to your intemperance just now, perhaps in the
glow of your small victory, I should let you revel in it, even if it will only
last for a very short time.”
He was a different man now. Perhaps he was finally the man he truly was. “I was
not aware, my lord, that men were the sole proprietors of intelligence and
courage.”
He kept playing with his damned white king, turning it between his long fingers.
I wanted to throw the board at him. Then he sighed. “Ah, my dear, there you are
wrong, and I think that you must perforce bow to my superior years of experience
in the matter.”
“I don’t see why.”
He stiffened. He was focused directly on me now. His eyes were cold, hard,
utterly without feeling or compassion. His voice was as cold as his eyes now,
and cutting, like a rapier through the silent air, “Oh, yes, your sex is weak,
vain, and totally lacking in moral character. You are no different.”
Still I could not see through this morass of anger in him, but I did realize
that it had to do with a woman. I stood and leaned over the table toward him, my
palms flat on the chessboard. My own voice matched his now, and I felt the
harshness of my voice to my very soul. “Those are words of a bitter man, my lord,
words that lack both measure and a balanced judgment. No, my lord, even your
immense number of years, all your endless supply of experiences, none of it can
justify such an unbalanced, even an unstable opinion.”
He jerked forward in one swift movement, grabbed my wrist, and pulled me toward
him across the table, so that my face was very close to his. I heard chess
pieces roll on the wooden floor. “Brave words, my girl, but words without
substance, without meaning. Ah, yes, you silly creature, you can taste fleeting
victory at a game of chess, for you were well taught. But in life, Andrea, in
life you have been but an insignificant pawn in a game of my own making. And now
I have what I want, my girl. I no longer need you. I no longer need to pander to
your foolish whims and laugh at your outlandish attempts at humor.”
“I do not understand you. What are you talking about? What do you mean?”
His grip tightened. Pain shot up my arm, but I made no sound.
“You are mad.”
“Mad, am I? We shall see.”
I looked into his eyes then. I saw no madness there. He looked as cold as my
grandfather’s flesh had felt when I had given him a final good-bye. He looked
deadly and calmly furious. I wondered if he was going to kill me, right here,
right now.
Chapter Twenty-seven
Abruptly he released my wrist, and in one swift motion, closed his long fingers
around my throat. I instinctively grabbed at his hands to free myself, but his
hold tightened inexorably. “You shall see, my dear, that you are quite helpless.
And never forget, will you, that you belong to me. You are my new, my very