Read Online 06.The Penniless Peer (The Eternal Collection) by Cartland Barbara - Free Book Online

fact I do understand them,” Fenella smiled. “Some years ago my father was working on ours. He is very fond of research, he made me help him, and I discovered some quite fascinating ancestors who I had no idea existed. One was a very wicked Austrian Princess who set the whole Court in a twitter by her scandalous misdemeanours.”
    “Austrian!” Sir Nicolas exclaimed. “That would account, Miss Lambert, for the colour of your hair.”
    Fenella looked at him questioningly and he said,
     “Did you not realise that the Austrian women, especially those who live in Vienna, are famous for their very dark red hair?”
    “And so I have inherited it down the ages!” Fenella cried, “what a wonderful thought! And perhaps I have also inherited some of the Princess’s more reprehensible qualities.” She looked at Sir Nicolas challengingly as she spoke.
    “I should have thought that unlikely,” he said dryly.
    “Did you have any surprises when you were researching for your family tree?” Fenella asked.
    She looked surreptitiously at the clock as she spoke. She was finding it hard to keep Sir Nicolas engaged and she was hoping that Hetty and Periquine would not be long.
    Surely, she thought, Hetty would be expected to return home at a reasonable time?
    It was obvious that Sir Nicolas on enquiring at the Hall where she was, had been told that she was visiting Mrs. Buckle, the supposedly ill House-Keeper at the Priory.
    But nearly two hours in which to make a visit of mercy would strain the credibility of even the most doting parent.
     “Yes, I discovered several extremely interesting characters, among my mother’s ancestors who were the Earls of St. Quentin,” Sir Nicolas was saying. “The Emperor Charlemagne was one and one of the Habsburg Kings was another. Now I think of it, there is a faint chance, Miss Lambert, that we might be related.”
    “That would be very exciting,” Fenella said. “If you ever come here again I might get our family tree from Papa and bring it for your perusal.”
    “I should like that,” Sir Nicolas said and she realised he was speaking quite sincerely.
    “Tell me about the Habsburg King whose blood we may both have in our veins,” Fenella pleaded.
    “Unfortunately there is not a great deal known about him . . .” Sir Nicolas began.
    Because she was really curious Fenella was leaning forward intently, when suddenly the door of the Salon opened and Hetty and Lord Corbury appeared together.
    There was a little silence and quite unexpectedly Fenella felt guilty, as if she were doing something wrong.
    Perhaps it was the annoyance in Hetty’s eyes or the expression in Lord Corbury’s. She was not certain. She only knew it brought her swiftly to her feet as with a little exclamation Hetty hurried forward with both hands outstretched.
    “Sir Nicolas ! you have arrived at last,” she exclaimed. “We had almost given up hope of ever seeing you.”
    “I was unfortunately delayed,” Sir Nicolas replied taking both Hetty’s hands in his, but raising only one to his lips.
    “But now at last you are here and I am overcome with chagrin to think I was not waiting at home for you, as I have been every day this week.”
    “You should not have put yourself out on my account,” Sir Nicolas said.
    He spoke politely, but Fenella thought with a little smile that that was exactly what he did expect. He must have been quite annoyed to find on his arrival that Hetty was not waiting for him.
    “How do you do, Waringham,” Lord Corbury said, and it was quite obvious from his tone of voice and the manner in which he held out his hand that he was definitely not pleased to see Sir Nicolas.
    “The servants told me on my arrival that Hetty had come here,” Sir Nicolas explained, “and as it was such a short distance I drove on in search of her.”
    “And now you have found me! “ Hetty exclaimed. “How delightful it is to think that you will be our guest! Papa and Mama have been so looking forward