Read Online Lovers in London by Barbara Cartland - Free Book Online Page A

guests were already arriving and pouring in through the hall.
    The Marquis had attended several formal dinner parties at The Langham and he reckoned that the Duke would have taken the whole of the large dining room, which was known as the Salle à manger .
    To reach it they were required to pass through a small courtyard with a fountain playing in the middle of it.
    Lanthia had never seen this fountain before and she wanted to stop and admire it, thinking just how fascinating it was.
    The water caught the lights as it streamed towards the sky and turned into tiny rainbows.
    The Marquis however moved her on.
    They walked up some steps to the entrance to the Salle à manger where the Duke was receiving his guests.
    He held out his hand to the Marquis.
    â€œI am delighted to see you, Rake, and of course to meet your friend you wanted to bring with you.”
    â€œMay I introduce her?” asked the Marquis. “Miss Lanthia Grenville – the Duke of Sutherland.”
    â€œI am so delighted to welcome you, Miss Grenville, and I do hope you will enjoy yourself tonight,” the Duke greeted her.
    â€œIt is very kind of you to invite me,” she replied.
    The Duke was looking at the Marquis.
    â€œThe hatching is going well,” he said, “and we shall have plenty of grouse for you at Dunrobin in the autumn.”
    â€œI am much looking forward to the beginning of the shooting Season.”
    They moved on because there were so many other guests behind them.
    The Marquis located the seating plan and noted that the party was arranged in tables of ten, except for the one in the centre at which twenty people were seated.
    As he expected that was where he was placed.
    Lanthia’s name had clearly been written in at the last moment and was seated on his left.
    He realised that he must have caused a great deal of trouble in upsetting the seating plan at the last moment and he could only be very grateful to the Duke for acceding to his request.
    He was most relieved to find that the Conté and the Contessa were seated at another table.
    It was then, as they were studying the seating plan, that Lanthia gave a little gasp and the Marquis noticed whom she was pointing at, placed at the top of their table.
    It was the Prince of Wales.
    And beside him and this came as no surprise at all – Mrs. Lillie Langtry.
    â€œYou did not tell me,” murmured Lanthia, “that the Prince of Wales would be present.”
    â€œI did not know either,” admitted the Marquis, “and if you have never met him you will find him very charming and easy to talk to.”
    Lanthia did not answer and the Marquis realised with slight amusement that she did not look frightened or upset, merely what he could only describe as enchanted.
    â€˜She is certainly most unusual for a young girl,’ he thought.
    There were many guests whom he knew and who called out his name.
    It was the gentlemen, who said,
    â€œHello, Rake, and what are you up to now?” or words to that effect.
    The ladies looked at him in a way that seemed a little familiar, which informed him all too clearly what they wanted but could not put into words.
    There were several waiters circulating and offering everyone a glass of champagne.
    Lanthia took a glass and sipped it carefully.
    At home her parents opened a bottle of champagne only on very special occasions and she knew it would be a mistake to drink too much.
    It might make her say something she might regret later.
    The Prince of Wales and Lillie Langtry were almost the last of the guests to arrive.
    As he entered the Salle à manger , the ladies nearest to them sank into deep curtsies as the gentlemen bowed.
    Lanthia and the Marquis were standing at the other end of the room and she asked him in a whisper,
    â€œWho is that lady with the Prince of Wales? She does not look like Princess Alexandra.”
    â€œThat is Mrs. Langtry. Surely you must have heard of ‘ the Jersey Lily