Read Online Love Became Theirs by Barbara Cartland - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Barbara Cartland
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Johnson."
Rona looked up from one of her trunks with an evening gown in her hands. "Sir?"
"If Alice comes to dinner, you must come too, to keep an eye on her. And wear that pretty blue dress you're holding."
She had just been thinking regretfully that in her character as governess she could not risk the blue dress. The Earl seemed to read her thoughts for he said.
"These are very elegant people. You must do me credit. And so must Alice."
"Very well, my Lord."
"I'll collect you both just before the reception starts."
"Excuse me," said Rona, "but I don't think Alice is quite ready for a grown up reception. Let me bring her down just for the meal."
"Very well. Whatever you think is proper. Oh, and by the way – don't wear your glasses tonight."
Rona quietly agreed, and the Earl went out, smiling to himself, for he thought he had handled that well.
When they dressed for dinner Rona decided to take a small risk. The Earl had said Alice must do him credit, so Rona allowed her to wear the pink gown that she had admired. It was fashionable but simple, and Alice was delighted.
Rona dressed the girl's hair herself, taking it up but not allowing the style to be too elaborate.
"There," she said, at last. "Now you look what you are. A beautiful young girl, on the edge of discovering that the world is yours."
"Listen," said Alice. "I hear wheels."
Looking out of the window they saw the first carriages driving up to the front door.
"Can't we go to the reception?" Alice pleaded.
"No, but we can go out onto the landing and watch them arrive."
They slipped out and leaned over the rail to watch gorgeously dressed men and woman swirl into the hall.
"Paris fashions," Alice breathed ecstatically.
"We'll get some for you," Rona promised.
"And some for you. But you are already so gorgeous that all the men will be in love with you."
Rona laughed.
"Now, why would I want all the men to be in love with me? What would I do with them? What matters is to have the one in love with you."
"Which one?" Alice asked, puzzled.
"The one your own heart has chosen, because only his love counts. When you've found him you have found everything in life that is important. Sometimes you have to be patient, but when the time comes, you mustn't be afraid to take any risk for your love."
"Is that what you did?" Alice asked earnestly.
"I – we weren't talking about me."
"But perhaps we should," said a voice behind them.
They turned to see Peter Carlton there, regarding them with a look of wicked amusement in his eyes.
"Mr. Carlton," Rona said crossly, "that is the second time you have crept up on a private conversation that I was having with your niece. It is most impolite to eavesdrop."
"But that's how you learn the really interesting things," he said outrageously. "After all, as you say, she is my niece. Naturally I want to know whether you're teaching her the right lessons – about propriety, and so forth."
"But how would you recognise propriety?" she demanded. "Since I am quite certain that you don't know the difference."
"Yes, teacher. No, teacher," he said drolly. "I take it that I'm now at the bottom of the class."
He was teasing her she knew, but for some reason she was angry with him. She felt, unreasonably, that he had no right to seem so like Harlequin, and yet not be Harlequin.
"You can stay there and hear me give Alice a lesson in propriety right this minute," she said stiffly.
"What?" Alice asked in alarm.
"Alice, you must always remember that it is grossly improper to listen to people's private conversations. You must never do so, or associate with those who indulge in this reprehensible practice."
His eyes danced. "So now I'm reprehensible. Miss Johnson, have I done something to offend you?"
"I've just finished telling you that you have. Were you not listening?"
"Ah, but I didn't mean just now. I meant – in general, are you angry with me? If so, I'll abase myself in sackcloth and ashes."
"Please do not be absurd,"
Rona looked up from one of her trunks with an evening gown in her hands. "Sir?"
"If Alice comes to dinner, you must come too, to keep an eye on her. And wear that pretty blue dress you're holding."
She had just been thinking regretfully that in her character as governess she could not risk the blue dress. The Earl seemed to read her thoughts for he said.
"These are very elegant people. You must do me credit. And so must Alice."
"Very well, my Lord."
"I'll collect you both just before the reception starts."
"Excuse me," said Rona, "but I don't think Alice is quite ready for a grown up reception. Let me bring her down just for the meal."
"Very well. Whatever you think is proper. Oh, and by the way – don't wear your glasses tonight."
Rona quietly agreed, and the Earl went out, smiling to himself, for he thought he had handled that well.
When they dressed for dinner Rona decided to take a small risk. The Earl had said Alice must do him credit, so Rona allowed her to wear the pink gown that she had admired. It was fashionable but simple, and Alice was delighted.
Rona dressed the girl's hair herself, taking it up but not allowing the style to be too elaborate.
"There," she said, at last. "Now you look what you are. A beautiful young girl, on the edge of discovering that the world is yours."
"Listen," said Alice. "I hear wheels."
Looking out of the window they saw the first carriages driving up to the front door.
"Can't we go to the reception?" Alice pleaded.
"No, but we can go out onto the landing and watch them arrive."
They slipped out and leaned over the rail to watch gorgeously dressed men and woman swirl into the hall.
"Paris fashions," Alice breathed ecstatically.
"We'll get some for you," Rona promised.
"And some for you. But you are already so gorgeous that all the men will be in love with you."
Rona laughed.
"Now, why would I want all the men to be in love with me? What would I do with them? What matters is to have the one in love with you."
"Which one?" Alice asked, puzzled.
"The one your own heart has chosen, because only his love counts. When you've found him you have found everything in life that is important. Sometimes you have to be patient, but when the time comes, you mustn't be afraid to take any risk for your love."
"Is that what you did?" Alice asked earnestly.
"I – we weren't talking about me."
"But perhaps we should," said a voice behind them.
They turned to see Peter Carlton there, regarding them with a look of wicked amusement in his eyes.
"Mr. Carlton," Rona said crossly, "that is the second time you have crept up on a private conversation that I was having with your niece. It is most impolite to eavesdrop."
"But that's how you learn the really interesting things," he said outrageously. "After all, as you say, she is my niece. Naturally I want to know whether you're teaching her the right lessons – about propriety, and so forth."
"But how would you recognise propriety?" she demanded. "Since I am quite certain that you don't know the difference."
"Yes, teacher. No, teacher," he said drolly. "I take it that I'm now at the bottom of the class."
He was teasing her she knew, but for some reason she was angry with him. She felt, unreasonably, that he had no right to seem so like Harlequin, and yet not be Harlequin.
"You can stay there and hear me give Alice a lesson in propriety right this minute," she said stiffly.
"What?" Alice asked in alarm.
"Alice, you must always remember that it is grossly improper to listen to people's private conversations. You must never do so, or associate with those who indulge in this reprehensible practice."
His eyes danced. "So now I'm reprehensible. Miss Johnson, have I done something to offend you?"
"I've just finished telling you that you have. Were you not listening?"
"Ah, but I didn't mean just now. I meant – in general, are you angry with me? If so, I'll abase myself in sackcloth and ashes."
"Please do not be absurd,"
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