Read Online 103. She Wanted Love by Barbara Cartland - Free Book Online Page B

thought a man is better at that than any woman.”
    Mr. Clarke laughed.
    “I hope you are right and I certainly have a lot of problems to solve here as his Lordship is away so often.”
    Eleta felt in that case the Marquis was neglecting not only his estate but also his child.
    She rose to her feet, saying,
    “Will you be taking me up to meet my new pupil?”
    Mr. Clarke shook his head.
    “No, the housekeeper will do that. You will find that Mrs. Shepherd will show you round and of course will give you anything you require.”
    He touched the bell on his desk.
    Immediately the door opened and an elderly woman in the traditional black of a housekeeper entered the room.
    “Good morning, Mrs. Shepherd,” Mr. Clarke said to her. “Allow me to introduce Miss Lawson, who has very kindly come as Governess to Lady Priscilla.”
    “That sounds a very long name for a very young girl,” Eleta remarked.
    “Her father used to call her ‘Pepe’,” Mr. Clarke answered, “but he is more formal now she is older.”
    Eleta did not reply, but, having shaken hands with Mrs. Shepherd, she said,
    “As I have been travelling since very early this morning, you will understand I would like to go upstairs and take off my hat and cape.”
    “Of course Miss Lawson,” the housekeeper agreed. “Your bedroom is in the nursery.”
    Eleta raised her eyebrows.
    “So Lady Priscilla is still in the nursery,” she asked, “even though she is old enough to have a Governess?”
    The housekeeper looked surprised.
    “We never thought of moving her, but if she wishes to have a larger room on a lower floor, there’s no reason why she shouldn’t, if that’s what she wants.”
    “No one mentioned this to me,” Mr. Clarke said as though they thought it might be his fault.
    “Of course not, but it’s something we must think about in the future.”
    Mrs. Shepherd gave a quick glance at Eleta, which told her quite clearly that she thought that she would not be staying long.
    Eleta turned to Mr. Clarke,
    “Thank you very much for being so kind and I hope I will not bother you too much.”
    “Of course, of course,” Mr. Clarke replied quickly.
    Mrs. Shepherd went the door and Eleta followed.
    “I’m afraid that it’s quite a long way upstairs,” she said. “As you’ve just arrived, I think you should use the front stairs which I’ve always been told are very majestic.”
    “I should be delighted. As you can imagine, I am very impressed with this beautiful house.”
    “Everybody is. I only hope, Miss Lawson, that you stay here long enough to see all the treasures we have in practically every room.”
    They went up to the first floor and then climbed again to the second and Mrs. Shepherd stopped outside a white painted door.
    Eleta was sure it was the nursery and suggested,
    “I think, Mrs. Shepherd, after all I have heard of the difficulties that lie ahead, I would like to go in alone.”
    “You don’t want me to introduce you to her?” Mrs. Shepherd asked in astonishment.
    Eleta shook her head.
    “If you don’t think it rude of me, I would rather introduce myself.”
    “Well then, that’s something new at any rate, but of course, Miss Lawson, you have your own way of doing things and we must respect them.”
    “Thank you, thank you very much, Mrs. Shepherd, and I expect if I am also to be sleeping in the nursery that my luggage will be brought up later.”
    She knew as she spoke from the expression on Mrs. Shepherd’s face that she had not thought of a Governess being anywhere but in the nursery.
    “I’ll be in my room, which anyone’ll show you to if you want me,” Mrs. Shepherd said loftily.
    Eleta then waited for Mrs. Shepherd to walk down the stairs and only when she had nearly reached the first floor did she open the door of the nursery and walk in.
    The small occupant of it was sitting on the floor with a doll on her lap and a whole pile of tin soldiers and other small toys were scattered on the floor beside her.
    She