Explore "The Pride of Jennico" by Egerton Castle on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
WHAT first entered my brain as the wildest possibility grew rapidly to a desire which possessed my whole being with absolute passion. The situation was in itself so singular and tantalising, and the Princess was so beautiful a woman, to be on these terms of delicious intimacy with the daughter of one of Europe's sovereigns (a little sovereign it is true, but great by race and connection), to meet her constantly in absolute defiance of all the laws of etiquette, yet to see her wear through it all as unapproachable a dignity, as serene an aspect of condescension, as though she were presiding at her father's Court-it was enough, surely, to have turned the head of a wiser man than myself!
It was not long before Mademoiselle Ottilie, the lady-in-waiting, discovered the secret madness of my thoughts-in the light of what has since occurred I can truly call it so. And she it was who, for purposes of her own, shovelled coals on the fire and fanned the flame. One way or another, generally on her initiative, but always by her arrangement, we three met, and met daily.