Read Online The Island of Love (Camfield Series No. 15) by Barbara Cartland - Free Book Online
Authors: Barbara Cartland
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journey.
“There is something I want to say to Your Lordship.”
“What is it?” the Earl asked.
“Just because I am Heloise’s sister,” she said, “you do not have to include me in your social engagements.”
“Why not?”
“Because it is something that does not happen at home. I have only come with Heloise because you would not allow her to bring a lady’s-maid with her.”
The Earl’s eyes were on her face as he said:
“I gather from what you have said and from the fact that I have never seen you when I have called at your father’s house, that you keep in the background. Why?”
Too late, Lydia wished she had not embarked on this conversation, but she had not expected him to ask questions.
Because there seemed to be no reason not to tell him the truth, she replied:
“I am not social like Heloise, and I am actually a disappointment.”
“Disappointment?” the Earl asked in surprise. Again Lydia felt this would have been better left unsaid, but he seemed to magnetise words out of her mouth that she had not intended to say.
Again she told the truth.
“Papa naturally wanted me to be a boy,” she said, “and although Heloise’s beauty makes up for her being the wrong sex. I can offer no such compensation.”
The Earl put back his head and laughed.
“You certainly say some very unusual things. Miss Westbury,” he said. “Although I can understand your father's disappointment at not having a son. I am sure you compensate him in many other ways.”
Lydia shook her head.
“Not really.” she said, “but I am always hoping that he will meet a charming lady whom he will marry and who will make up for my deficiency.”
“You really hope your father will marry again?”
“Why not? He is still quite a young man and he will be lonely when Heloise is married.”
“He will still have you!”
Lydia did not speak but merely looked out to sea and as if her silence was more eloquent than words the Earl said:
“I feel you are asking me to help you, and I must admit it is the first time in my life that I have ever been asked to find a wife for a man other than myself.”
Lydia smiled.
“Where you are concerned. My Lord, it must be quite a relief to stop being pestered.”
“You are right,” the Earl agreed. “I have been ‘pestered’ as you call it and for so long that I can hardly believe I will suffer it no longer.”
Lydia drew in her breath. Then she said:
“Perhaps it is remiss of me not before this to have wished you every happiness.”
“Your sister is very beautiful!”
“I think it would be impossible to find anybody more beautiful!” Lydia agreed.
It flashed through her mind as she spoke that Lydia and the Duchess of Dorchester were very alike, and she had almost added that she knew Heloise was the type the Earl admired.
Then to her astonishment he said as if he read her thoughts:
“You are right, but there are of course, exceptions to every rule.”
She turned again to look at him, her eyes very wide.
“How could you know what I was thinking?”
“I have just asked myself the same question.” Lydia looked down.
“It is ... something you must ... not do.”
“But suppose I cannot help it?”
“Then, as I have already said, My Lord, you need not concern yourself with me. I am used to being unnoticed, and perhaps now I should go below. Heloise may want me.”
She would have walked away from him but the Earl said:
“It is always a mistake to run away from the unexpected or to be afraid.”
Lydia held onto the ship’s rail with both hands.
“I am not afraid,” she said in a low voice.
“I think that is untrue,” the Earl replied. “We are all a little afraid of the unknown, but it could be very exciting and very enjoyable to explore and find out what for the moment we cannot completely understand.”
She thought he was still talking of the way he had been able to read her thoughts.
There were a million questions she wanted to ask him and she
“There is something I want to say to Your Lordship.”
“What is it?” the Earl asked.
“Just because I am Heloise’s sister,” she said, “you do not have to include me in your social engagements.”
“Why not?”
“Because it is something that does not happen at home. I have only come with Heloise because you would not allow her to bring a lady’s-maid with her.”
The Earl’s eyes were on her face as he said:
“I gather from what you have said and from the fact that I have never seen you when I have called at your father’s house, that you keep in the background. Why?”
Too late, Lydia wished she had not embarked on this conversation, but she had not expected him to ask questions.
Because there seemed to be no reason not to tell him the truth, she replied:
“I am not social like Heloise, and I am actually a disappointment.”
“Disappointment?” the Earl asked in surprise. Again Lydia felt this would have been better left unsaid, but he seemed to magnetise words out of her mouth that she had not intended to say.
Again she told the truth.
“Papa naturally wanted me to be a boy,” she said, “and although Heloise’s beauty makes up for her being the wrong sex. I can offer no such compensation.”
The Earl put back his head and laughed.
“You certainly say some very unusual things. Miss Westbury,” he said. “Although I can understand your father's disappointment at not having a son. I am sure you compensate him in many other ways.”
Lydia shook her head.
“Not really.” she said, “but I am always hoping that he will meet a charming lady whom he will marry and who will make up for my deficiency.”
“You really hope your father will marry again?”
“Why not? He is still quite a young man and he will be lonely when Heloise is married.”
“He will still have you!”
Lydia did not speak but merely looked out to sea and as if her silence was more eloquent than words the Earl said:
“I feel you are asking me to help you, and I must admit it is the first time in my life that I have ever been asked to find a wife for a man other than myself.”
Lydia smiled.
“Where you are concerned. My Lord, it must be quite a relief to stop being pestered.”
“You are right,” the Earl agreed. “I have been ‘pestered’ as you call it and for so long that I can hardly believe I will suffer it no longer.”
Lydia drew in her breath. Then she said:
“Perhaps it is remiss of me not before this to have wished you every happiness.”
“Your sister is very beautiful!”
“I think it would be impossible to find anybody more beautiful!” Lydia agreed.
It flashed through her mind as she spoke that Lydia and the Duchess of Dorchester were very alike, and she had almost added that she knew Heloise was the type the Earl admired.
Then to her astonishment he said as if he read her thoughts:
“You are right, but there are of course, exceptions to every rule.”
She turned again to look at him, her eyes very wide.
“How could you know what I was thinking?”
“I have just asked myself the same question.” Lydia looked down.
“It is ... something you must ... not do.”
“But suppose I cannot help it?”
“Then, as I have already said, My Lord, you need not concern yourself with me. I am used to being unnoticed, and perhaps now I should go below. Heloise may want me.”
She would have walked away from him but the Earl said:
“It is always a mistake to run away from the unexpected or to be afraid.”
Lydia held onto the ship’s rail with both hands.
“I am not afraid,” she said in a low voice.
“I think that is untrue,” the Earl replied. “We are all a little afraid of the unknown, but it could be very exciting and very enjoyable to explore and find out what for the moment we cannot completely understand.”
She thought he was still talking of the way he had been able to read her thoughts.
There were a million questions she wanted to ask him and she
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