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Authors: Barbara Cartland
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when they reached Paris, his manner was brisk and businesslike and she decided that she must have imagined everything.
At last they were drawing away from the railway station in a carriage. As they sat back in the comfortable seats the Earl said,
"I wonder which of us is the most excited at being in Paris."
"That's me," Alice replied, "because Miss Johnson tells me I am going to find fascinating things in Paris that I've never seen before."
"And of course," said Rona, "you will be told all about it – in French."
The Earl smiled.
"I shall enjoy that. I'm looking forward to this visit too, because in the past I've been alone."
"And I too am looking forward to it," said Rona. "I'm sure things have changed since I was last here."
"So you've been here before?" the Earl asked. "You didn't tell me that."
"I think, to be honest, you took it for granted," Rona replied. "I love France, especially Paris, and it's such a pleasure to return to it."
The Earl looked at her.
"You are full of surprises, Miss Johnson," he said.
"I think Alice will find it as exciting as I did," Rona said, adding with meaning, "especially when we go shopping."
The Earl laughed.
"That's what I'm afraid of."
Alice clapped her hands and gave a cry.
"Papa, you are not to be mean, and I will buy you a lovely present. And I'm going to learn to be a woman of distinction , like Miss Johnson. And you will be very proud of me."
"Miss Johnson, I'm amazed," said the Earl. "How have you transformed this imp in so little time?"
"That's a secret," Rona answered, with a smile at Alice.
Peter Carlton had been listening to all this with interest. Now he spoke to the Earl.
"You know, old fellow, I think you're soon going to get the biggest shock of your life.
"If all shocks are as pleasant as this," said the Earl, "I'm going to look forward to them."
CHAPTER FIVE
Lord Lancing's party was to stay with Monsieur Armand Thierre and his family in their elegant home on the Champs Elysees.
While Monsieur Thierre had no title he was one of the most influential men, not only in Paris but anywhere on the continent. He was an international banker of vast wealth and influence. He held no government post, but his quietly uttered words were heeded.
Neither he nor his wife displayed any dismay at the extra numbers added to the party, and greeted Peter like an old friend, as he was.
When the hostess bent to kiss Alice, she said in French, "It is very kind of you to have me here."
She said it slowly and carefully, just as Rona had taught her.
Madame Thierre was delighted.
Watching the Earl, Rona was pleased to see him gasp in pleasure and astonishment.
Footmen were already carrying their luggage upstairs. They followed and found themselves in a large elegant bedroom. It might have belonged to a Princess, Rona thought, looking around at the gilt mirrors and paintings on the ceiling.
For a moment she forgot her difficult situation in the happiness of being in Paris again. Then she set to work, directing the maid who was beginning to unpack.
For the first time Alice saw the clothes that had reposed in Rona's trunks, and her eyes widened at the fashionable garments.
"Oh, I like that so much," she said at a soft pink dress that appeared. "How lucky you are. I'm so tired of dressing like a schoolgirl."
"You won't be a schoolgirl very much longer," Rona promised her, reaching into the trunk for another dress, of delicate blue silk.
There was a knock on the door. Alice danced over and opened it, to find her father standing there.
"Oh, Papa, it's so beautiful." She took his hand and pulled him into the room. "It's such a lovely house, and what I've seen of Paris is lovely, and my room is lovely, and everything is lovely."
He laughed at her excitement.
"I'm glad you like it, darling. Do you think you can be on your best behaviour for a formal dinner tonight?" His eyes twinkled. "Or had we better not risk it?"
"Oh please Papa. I'll be good."
"It's up to Miss
At last they were drawing away from the railway station in a carriage. As they sat back in the comfortable seats the Earl said,
"I wonder which of us is the most excited at being in Paris."
"That's me," Alice replied, "because Miss Johnson tells me I am going to find fascinating things in Paris that I've never seen before."
"And of course," said Rona, "you will be told all about it – in French."
The Earl smiled.
"I shall enjoy that. I'm looking forward to this visit too, because in the past I've been alone."
"And I too am looking forward to it," said Rona. "I'm sure things have changed since I was last here."
"So you've been here before?" the Earl asked. "You didn't tell me that."
"I think, to be honest, you took it for granted," Rona replied. "I love France, especially Paris, and it's such a pleasure to return to it."
The Earl looked at her.
"You are full of surprises, Miss Johnson," he said.
"I think Alice will find it as exciting as I did," Rona said, adding with meaning, "especially when we go shopping."
The Earl laughed.
"That's what I'm afraid of."
Alice clapped her hands and gave a cry.
"Papa, you are not to be mean, and I will buy you a lovely present. And I'm going to learn to be a woman of distinction , like Miss Johnson. And you will be very proud of me."
"Miss Johnson, I'm amazed," said the Earl. "How have you transformed this imp in so little time?"
"That's a secret," Rona answered, with a smile at Alice.
Peter Carlton had been listening to all this with interest. Now he spoke to the Earl.
"You know, old fellow, I think you're soon going to get the biggest shock of your life.
"If all shocks are as pleasant as this," said the Earl, "I'm going to look forward to them."
CHAPTER FIVE
Lord Lancing's party was to stay with Monsieur Armand Thierre and his family in their elegant home on the Champs Elysees.
While Monsieur Thierre had no title he was one of the most influential men, not only in Paris but anywhere on the continent. He was an international banker of vast wealth and influence. He held no government post, but his quietly uttered words were heeded.
Neither he nor his wife displayed any dismay at the extra numbers added to the party, and greeted Peter like an old friend, as he was.
When the hostess bent to kiss Alice, she said in French, "It is very kind of you to have me here."
She said it slowly and carefully, just as Rona had taught her.
Madame Thierre was delighted.
Watching the Earl, Rona was pleased to see him gasp in pleasure and astonishment.
Footmen were already carrying their luggage upstairs. They followed and found themselves in a large elegant bedroom. It might have belonged to a Princess, Rona thought, looking around at the gilt mirrors and paintings on the ceiling.
For a moment she forgot her difficult situation in the happiness of being in Paris again. Then she set to work, directing the maid who was beginning to unpack.
For the first time Alice saw the clothes that had reposed in Rona's trunks, and her eyes widened at the fashionable garments.
"Oh, I like that so much," she said at a soft pink dress that appeared. "How lucky you are. I'm so tired of dressing like a schoolgirl."
"You won't be a schoolgirl very much longer," Rona promised her, reaching into the trunk for another dress, of delicate blue silk.
There was a knock on the door. Alice danced over and opened it, to find her father standing there.
"Oh, Papa, it's so beautiful." She took his hand and pulled him into the room. "It's such a lovely house, and what I've seen of Paris is lovely, and my room is lovely, and everything is lovely."
He laughed at her excitement.
"I'm glad you like it, darling. Do you think you can be on your best behaviour for a formal dinner tonight?" His eyes twinkled. "Or had we better not risk it?"
"Oh please Papa. I'll be good."
"It's up to Miss
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