Read Online The Importance of Love by Barbara Cartland - Free Book Online

she whispered. “You must thank him for me.”
    â€œI have already done so.”
    â€œHe is from London, is he not? Is he one of the Mayfair Kenningtons?”
    â€œI have not asked, but it is obvious that he is not born locally.”
    â€œWe are highly fortunate to have landed on his doorstep,” added Aunt Edith. “Frank Connolly will never find us here!”
    â€œI do hope not. I feel safe under the Viscount’s roof – no matter how shabby it might be.”
    Luella sat with her aunt until it was time for dinner.
    *
    Meanwhile downstairs in the dining room, the Viscount was nervously pacing the room awaiting the arrival of Luella.
    Cork noticed that his new Master appeared jittery, but attributed it to the fact that he was anxious about entertaining visitors so soon after his arrival.
    Of course, he was quite accustomed to serving strange faces as Madame Le Fevre had often taken in lost travellers. It was the position of the house, standing so prominently on the slopes above the River Torridge that attracted them to the door.
    â€œCork, would you see if Miss Ridgeway is coming?” asked the Viscount.
    Almost as soon as the words had left his mouth, Luella appeared in the doorway wearing a beautiful blue silk dress that had obviously come from Paris.
    The Viscount caught his breath as he gazed at her coming towards him, a shy smile playing about her lips.
    â€œYou are looking most charming this evening,” declared the Viscount, as he took her hand and kissed it. Her soft skin smelled of lemon verbena that made him think of a fresh summer’s day.
    Luella smiled and blushed.
    She did not feel in any way threatened by the Viscount for he was as different from Frank Connolly as was humanly possible. For a start, the Viscount was far nobler than Connolly, himself only the youngest son of a minor Irish Lord.
    And Luella sensed at once that he subscribed to the highest moral values and would never seek to press his attentions on her.
    â€œHow is the Countess?” he asked, indicating to Cork to pour the wine.
    â€œShe is very comfortable, thanks to your wonderful maid.”
    â€œYes, Maisie is a good and loyal servant. I am most fortunate that all my staff are excellent.”
    Cork brought the first course and they both ate in silence.
    â€˜Why am I being so awkward around her?’ thought the Viscount, as he finished his dish. ‘There is something about her that makes me behave like a stumbling fool.’
    As the meal progressed, Luella seemed to relax and began to ask him questions.
    â€œDo your family mind you being so far away from London?”
    â€œI am not currently on speaking terms with my father,” admitted the Viscount. “And Mama died a few years ago. I do miss Grandmama, but as she now lives in my father’s house, we have limited contact.”
    â€œThat is a pity,” replied Luella, her large blue eyes full of compassion. “From what you say, you are the only son, I assume?”
    â€œYes, I have no brothers or sisters.”
    â€œI am in the same position and both my parents died in a terrible train crash in Scotland some years ago. I went to live with my uncle’s wife, the Countess, and, when her husband died, she took to travelling around Europe, so I went with her.”
    â€œOh, I am sorry,” murmured the Viscount, as every inch of him longed to reach across the dining table and take her hand. “She is all you have in the world?”
    â€œYes, which is why I was so distraught when she collapsed in the carriage. I do not know what I should do if she were to – ”
    Her voice trailed off and the Viscount found his heart surging out to her. She awakened so many unfamiliar emotions in him that his first instinct was to distance himself from her.
    Yet, as she sat there before him, her soft hair curling around her face and her small but expressive hands fluttering, he was as one