Read Online A Kiss from the Heart by Barbara Cartland - Free Book Online Page B

silence staring out of the window.
    â€œIt’s only a broken leg, Mama. It is not serious. He will not die!”
    â€œThat is not what I was thinking!” she replied a little sharply.
    She was becoming tired of her eldest son’s selfish ways.
    â€œIt is the estate I am concerned about. Alec was no nearer to finding the thieves who are draining us and now he will be unable to attend to his duties. Robert, you know what this means?”
    â€œMama, he will be back on that horse in no time!”
    â€œRobert, you will have to run the estate until he is well. And do not think for a moment that I will allow him on horseback until his leg is quite healed.”
    She gave him a steely look and he shrank into his seat. Her cool blue eyes so like his own bore into him leaving him in no doubt as to what she expected.
    â€œNow, there is another matter I wish to discuss with you,” she continued in a softer tone. “I was just about to mention it this morning when we had our dreadful shock. An old friend of mine, Lady Florence Waterton, is coming to visit us at Ledbury. You may recall me speaking of her in my letters to you when you were in India. Her husband was killed during the battle of Majuba Hill?”
    The Earl paused. His mother had written of many things when he was in India, most of which he had not paid the slightest attention to. The name was vaguely familiar to him, but he could not recall the details.
    â€œHmm,” he answered noncommitally.
    â€œYou will so enjoy meeting her. She is young and lively and is quite the most fascinating conversationalist. I met her in Biarritz.”
    The Earl sighed.
    Was this yet another attempt by his mother to introduce him to a ‘suitable woman?’ Was it not enough that he would have to cope with taking on Alec’s duties without being bothered by another troublesome petticoat tyrant?
    His mother continued to speak to him intermittently and she appeared satisfied with his mere grunts as replies.
    As the moon came up they arrived at Ledbury Hall.
    In its silvery light the house looked even more imposing and eerie than in the daytime.
    As the carriage rattled up the drive, the Earl’s heart was in his boots.
    *
    The next morning dawned unnaturally early for the Earl. Monkhouse wakened him with a large cup of tea and a ready-drawn bath.
    The Earl could not manage a word while he was shaved and dressed. His thoughts were occupied by what the day ahead would bring.
    No sooner had he set one foot back in the Hall than papers were thrust at him and he was asked for a thousand decisions before the dust of the journey had settled.
    â€˜I expect Mama will have my day clearly mapped out for me,’ he mused, as he walked slowly down the huge oak staircase to the dining room.
    His mother was already at the table. She looked up at him.
    â€œHave you looked in on Alec yet? He is keen to speak with you.”
    â€œNo, Mama, I came directly down to breakfast,” he replied a little irritably.
    â€œThen, you must be sure to visit him the moment you have finished eating,” she suggested in a voice that begged no argument.
    The Earl glumly sipped his tea and munched his bacon and eggs. Although he wished to see Alec, he knew what their conversation would be about.
    *
    Much later and after he had eaten a delicious lunch that had cheered him up no end, he decided to go for a ride.
    The memory of his talk with Alec still lingered in his mind and he wished to be out into the fresh air to think.
    â€œYou must promise me that you will not allow this situation to escalate,” Alec had told him from his sickbed. “You must check the perimeters on a daily basis to catch the scoundrels red-handed! I am quite certain that they are rendezvousing in the old barn near the Whitby’s house!”
    â€˜Ah, the Whitby’s!’ he thought. ‘And is that not the same barn where I once met with an unfortunate accident?’
    A vision of