Guidobaldo and his few attendants lingered after his late ally had gone.
Then he bade Francesco lead him to his niece, in which Francesco readily
obeyed him.
The Duke embraced her coldly--still that he embraced her at all after
what was passed augured well.
"You will come with me to Urbino, Lord Count?" he said suddenly to
Francesco. "It were best to celebrate the nuptials there. Everything is
in readiness--for all had been prepared for Gian Maria."
A great joy came into Valentina's eyes; her cheeks flushed and her glance
fell; but Francesco scanned the Duke's face with the keen eye of one who
is incredulous of so much good fortune.
"Your Highness means me well?" he made bold to ask. Guidobaldo
stiffened, and a frown broke the serenity of his lofty brow.
"You have my princely word," he answered solemnly, at which, with bended
knee, Francesco stooped to kiss his ducal hand.
And so they departed on the horses that they kept as the spoils of war.
They made a goodly show, Guidobaldo riding at their head, with Francesco
and Valentina, whilst the rear was brought up by Peppe and Fra Domenico,
who, touched by this epidemic of goodwill, were at last fraternising with
each other.
And as they rode it chanced that presently Guidobaldo fell behind, so
that for a moment Francesco and Valentina found themselves alone a little
ahead of the others. She turned to him, a shyness in her brown eyes, a
tremble at the corners of her red lips:
"You have not yet said that you forgive me, Francesco," she complained,
in a timerous whisper.
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