Read Online Love is Triumphant by Barbara Cartland - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Barbara Cartland
Ads: Link
of stark terror.
CHAPTER FIVE
Rosina spent the rest of the evening in a mood of angry excitement. She had struck a blow for Miss Draycott, and it was a thrilling experience.
Now that she had seen Arthur Woodward at close quarters, she hated him even more than in the past. His ease of manner, his assurance, only made her think of her friend, lying dead.
Fairly soon after their encounter she went to her father's side and said, so that only he could hear,
"I think we ought to go home. You have a great deal to do tomorrow and if you are tired you will find it very difficult."
He smiled at her.
"You are quite right," he agreed. "We must go home. But I have enjoyed coming here tonight and I hope the Earl's daughter will stay your friend."
He lowered his voice before he went on,
"I hear they have parties almost every week. That is what you would enjoy, I am quite certain."
"Actually I enjoy being with you," Rosina replied. "I think we will find it difficult to concentrate on anything else until the election is over."
Her father laughed.
"You are quite right, darling," he said. "But I think you have had rather a difficult and unhappy time recently, and now I want you to enjoy yourself. So if they ask you to come again, you must accept."
Before they left, Arthur Woodward sought her out. After their brief conversation, she had turned away, giving him no time to reply, and she could tell that he had been agitated ever since.
He uttered the conventional words of farewell, but his anxious eyes seemed to bore into her, as if, in that way, he could seek out her true meaning.
It was with difficulty that she shook him by the hand.
"It has been a great pleasure to meet you and your parents," he said to her. "I wish for your father the same success that I long to have myself."
He paused for a moment.
Rosina knew that he expected her to give him words of encouragement and flattery.
Instead, without speaking, she walked away. She could sense him staring after her, wondering why his charm did not seem to work. Or perhaps fearful that the reason was the one he suspected.
"Is Sir John not accompanying us?" she asked when she and her parents were in the carriage.
"I saw him deep in conversation with the Holdens," Lady Clarendon replied. "No doubt they will convey him in their carriage."
So the Holdens were determined to get their claws into him, Rosina thought. On the other hand, it was a relief, as she wanted to speak about Mr. Woodward without alerting Sir John.
"Do you think that Mr. Woodward is likely to win in
South Gradley?" she asked her father.
"I think he is going to have a tough time," her father replied. "A new constituency is always difficult. Don't tell me he took your fancy. I thought your manner to him was rather cool when we said goodbye."
"He most certainly did not take my fancy. I have no wish to meet him again."
"Perfectly right, my love," her mother said.
Rosina was tired, and went to bed as soon as they reached home. But she did not, as she had expected, fall asleep at once. She lay awake until nearly two o'clock, when she heard the sound of a carriage in the street below. Getting out of bed, she went to the window and looked down to where Sir John was just entering the front door.
Strangely enough, after that it was even harder to get to sleep.
*
The following morning Rosina and her mother settled down to the serious business of planning her debut ball.
The guest list was glittering, since Papa knew not only the Blakemores but almost all the great titles in the House of Lords.
"The Duke of Allion will be there, with his eldest son whose engagement has just been broken off," Lady Clarendon said with satisfaction.
"Mama, that is going much too far," Rosina said, laughing. "You can't marry me to a Duke, not unless I had as much money as the Holdens."
"Ah yes, the Holdens. They must be invited for John's sake. You do well to remind me."
"I didn't mean – "
"And the Blakemores will bring their
CHAPTER FIVE
Rosina spent the rest of the evening in a mood of angry excitement. She had struck a blow for Miss Draycott, and it was a thrilling experience.
Now that she had seen Arthur Woodward at close quarters, she hated him even more than in the past. His ease of manner, his assurance, only made her think of her friend, lying dead.
Fairly soon after their encounter she went to her father's side and said, so that only he could hear,
"I think we ought to go home. You have a great deal to do tomorrow and if you are tired you will find it very difficult."
He smiled at her.
"You are quite right," he agreed. "We must go home. But I have enjoyed coming here tonight and I hope the Earl's daughter will stay your friend."
He lowered his voice before he went on,
"I hear they have parties almost every week. That is what you would enjoy, I am quite certain."
"Actually I enjoy being with you," Rosina replied. "I think we will find it difficult to concentrate on anything else until the election is over."
Her father laughed.
"You are quite right, darling," he said. "But I think you have had rather a difficult and unhappy time recently, and now I want you to enjoy yourself. So if they ask you to come again, you must accept."
Before they left, Arthur Woodward sought her out. After their brief conversation, she had turned away, giving him no time to reply, and she could tell that he had been agitated ever since.
He uttered the conventional words of farewell, but his anxious eyes seemed to bore into her, as if, in that way, he could seek out her true meaning.
It was with difficulty that she shook him by the hand.
"It has been a great pleasure to meet you and your parents," he said to her. "I wish for your father the same success that I long to have myself."
He paused for a moment.
Rosina knew that he expected her to give him words of encouragement and flattery.
Instead, without speaking, she walked away. She could sense him staring after her, wondering why his charm did not seem to work. Or perhaps fearful that the reason was the one he suspected.
"Is Sir John not accompanying us?" she asked when she and her parents were in the carriage.
"I saw him deep in conversation with the Holdens," Lady Clarendon replied. "No doubt they will convey him in their carriage."
So the Holdens were determined to get their claws into him, Rosina thought. On the other hand, it was a relief, as she wanted to speak about Mr. Woodward without alerting Sir John.
"Do you think that Mr. Woodward is likely to win in
South Gradley?" she asked her father.
"I think he is going to have a tough time," her father replied. "A new constituency is always difficult. Don't tell me he took your fancy. I thought your manner to him was rather cool when we said goodbye."
"He most certainly did not take my fancy. I have no wish to meet him again."
"Perfectly right, my love," her mother said.
Rosina was tired, and went to bed as soon as they reached home. But she did not, as she had expected, fall asleep at once. She lay awake until nearly two o'clock, when she heard the sound of a carriage in the street below. Getting out of bed, she went to the window and looked down to where Sir John was just entering the front door.
Strangely enough, after that it was even harder to get to sleep.
*
The following morning Rosina and her mother settled down to the serious business of planning her debut ball.
The guest list was glittering, since Papa knew not only the Blakemores but almost all the great titles in the House of Lords.
"The Duke of Allion will be there, with his eldest son whose engagement has just been broken off," Lady Clarendon said with satisfaction.
"Mama, that is going much too far," Rosina said, laughing. "You can't marry me to a Duke, not unless I had as much money as the Holdens."
"Ah yes, the Holdens. They must be invited for John's sake. You do well to remind me."
"I didn't mean – "
"And the Blakemores will bring their
Similar Books
