Read Online Love Drives In by Barbara Cartland - Free Book Online
Authors: Barbara Cartland
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grinned at him in a knowing way before allowing his eyes to flicker over Dorina.
It seemed to her that he regarded her with appreciation and she began to feel a little indignant.
They entered a huge rotunda, nearly a hundred feet across and the same in height. Looking up to the ceiling, Dorina saw tier after tier filled with people enjoying themselves in various stages of merriment.
The performance had already begun. A troupe of ballet girls was prancing lightly around the stage, showing much leg and receiving much appreciation from noisy young men.
Dorina stared, remembering the starched matron's warnings, which seemed to be true.
Looking around, she saw the centre of the ground floor, which had been railed off. Here were seated what appeared to be families, husbands, wives, young people.
This must be the family section that was no more than a 'fig-leaf for impropriety'.
The Earl led her to one of the front stalls. Plainly this part of the house was respectable.
But the rest was as far from respectable as Dorina had ever seen.
She was puzzled. Something very strange seemed to be going on.
CHAPTER FIVE
Dorina stared around trying to take in everything about the Alhambra.
Young men with hot eyes prowled about in search of young women, of whom there were plenty. Everywhere there seemed to be bars with liquor dispensed by pretty young bar-maids. Champagne flowed and the air was full of raucous laughter.
The ballet came to an end amid much applause.
Dorina thought of her mother, and knew she would have been shocked to see her here. How could the Earl have done this?
But then she realised that he saw her, not as an unchaperoned young lady, but as someone who would find the somewhat risqué atmosphere acceptable.
'I suppose he thinks that, because I go out to work, and manage without a chaperone, and sleep in his house, therefore I'm a woman of the world,' she mused. 'If only he knew how far from the truth that is. I suppose Lady Musgrove would love it.'
She found the thought vaguely disturbing. She did not want to be put on the same level as Lady Musgrove, whom she considered a thoroughly vulgar woman despite her title.
And what about 'Elsie' who had written him a passionate letter, saying how she remembered 'that magical evening'? Why had it been magical? Where had they been? Here?
How many women had he brought to this place?
Was she merely the latest in a long line? Did he bring respectable ladies here, tantalising them with the promise of an excitement outside their normal experience? 'Just a little bit naughty, but not too much.' And then what?
She turned and found the Earl looking at her, admiration in his eyes.
"My Lord – " she began.
"Why don't you call me Gerald?" he said.
The words caught her off-guard.
"I hardly like to," she demurred. "I am your secretary, almost your servant – "
"Certainly not. Tonight we are two friends enjoying each other's company. Gerald and – Dorina?"
"Dorina," she agreed.
There was a laugh from behind them. Looking back, Dorina saw a little group of people who were undoubtedly a family. The sight reassured her. Whatever was happening in the rest of the Alhambra, there was a respectable part.
The next ballet started. It was vaguely about sea nymphs, which gave all the ballet girls an excuse to dress very lightly in floating, semi-transparent costumes. Dorina found herself blushing.
Then she came to a decision. She prided herself on being a strong woman who could grasp a situation and deal with it.
Very well, then.
As the music ended she joined in the applause as though she had not a care in the world. She smiled at the Earl and said,
"I feel rather thirsty. Perhaps we could walk about and find one of those bars, where we can have something to drink?"
He was instantly uneasy.
"I don't think that would be a very good idea," he demurred. "Perhaps we should leave and find a restaurant?
"Oh no, I want to see the next ballet," she said implacably. "That gives
It seemed to her that he regarded her with appreciation and she began to feel a little indignant.
They entered a huge rotunda, nearly a hundred feet across and the same in height. Looking up to the ceiling, Dorina saw tier after tier filled with people enjoying themselves in various stages of merriment.
The performance had already begun. A troupe of ballet girls was prancing lightly around the stage, showing much leg and receiving much appreciation from noisy young men.
Dorina stared, remembering the starched matron's warnings, which seemed to be true.
Looking around, she saw the centre of the ground floor, which had been railed off. Here were seated what appeared to be families, husbands, wives, young people.
This must be the family section that was no more than a 'fig-leaf for impropriety'.
The Earl led her to one of the front stalls. Plainly this part of the house was respectable.
But the rest was as far from respectable as Dorina had ever seen.
She was puzzled. Something very strange seemed to be going on.
CHAPTER FIVE
Dorina stared around trying to take in everything about the Alhambra.
Young men with hot eyes prowled about in search of young women, of whom there were plenty. Everywhere there seemed to be bars with liquor dispensed by pretty young bar-maids. Champagne flowed and the air was full of raucous laughter.
The ballet came to an end amid much applause.
Dorina thought of her mother, and knew she would have been shocked to see her here. How could the Earl have done this?
But then she realised that he saw her, not as an unchaperoned young lady, but as someone who would find the somewhat risqué atmosphere acceptable.
'I suppose he thinks that, because I go out to work, and manage without a chaperone, and sleep in his house, therefore I'm a woman of the world,' she mused. 'If only he knew how far from the truth that is. I suppose Lady Musgrove would love it.'
She found the thought vaguely disturbing. She did not want to be put on the same level as Lady Musgrove, whom she considered a thoroughly vulgar woman despite her title.
And what about 'Elsie' who had written him a passionate letter, saying how she remembered 'that magical evening'? Why had it been magical? Where had they been? Here?
How many women had he brought to this place?
Was she merely the latest in a long line? Did he bring respectable ladies here, tantalising them with the promise of an excitement outside their normal experience? 'Just a little bit naughty, but not too much.' And then what?
She turned and found the Earl looking at her, admiration in his eyes.
"My Lord – " she began.
"Why don't you call me Gerald?" he said.
The words caught her off-guard.
"I hardly like to," she demurred. "I am your secretary, almost your servant – "
"Certainly not. Tonight we are two friends enjoying each other's company. Gerald and – Dorina?"
"Dorina," she agreed.
There was a laugh from behind them. Looking back, Dorina saw a little group of people who were undoubtedly a family. The sight reassured her. Whatever was happening in the rest of the Alhambra, there was a respectable part.
The next ballet started. It was vaguely about sea nymphs, which gave all the ballet girls an excuse to dress very lightly in floating, semi-transparent costumes. Dorina found herself blushing.
Then she came to a decision. She prided herself on being a strong woman who could grasp a situation and deal with it.
Very well, then.
As the music ended she joined in the applause as though she had not a care in the world. She smiled at the Earl and said,
"I feel rather thirsty. Perhaps we could walk about and find one of those bars, where we can have something to drink?"
He was instantly uneasy.
"I don't think that would be a very good idea," he demurred. "Perhaps we should leave and find a restaurant?
"Oh no, I want to see the next ballet," she said implacably. "That gives
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