A Kiss from the Heart by Barbara Cartland

Author:Barbara Cartland
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance
Publisher: Barbara Cartland.com
Published: 2010-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

The Earl sat in his bedroom and looked aimlessly into the middle distance. Having taken off his riding habit, he was now wearing his silk dressing gown.

Monkhouse had taken his dinner jacket away for pressing, so he passed the time in idle contemplation.

He was thinking constantly of Miranda and her soft fair hair, her smiling grey eyes –

He was so impressed that she was equally at home with her hands in the earth or composed in her father’s drawing room.

There was something so very unaffected about her.

‘And she was in London for the Season earlier this year!’ he marvelled, believing that every debutante was prone to excesses of affectation and social one-upmanship.

‘I can hardly believe that she is the same little girl who rescued me single-handed from a deep snowdrift!’ he mused. ‘She was always so big for her age – she was almost my height in those days and as strong as an ox – and yet, she has grown into a fine-boned young woman who is at once both sturdy and elegant. How could it be?’

He was still pondering Miranda’s exquisite bone structure when Monkhouse returned to the room, carrying the pressed dinner jacket.

“Would you care to dress now, my Lord? Or can I fetch you something else first?”

He smiled because Monkhouse knew that he liked to indulge in a small whisky before dinner.

“The usual, please, Monkhouse.”

The Earl savoured his drink and took his time dressing. The gong had long since sounded and he was still in his shirt and trousers.

“Her Ladyship will be upset if you are late,” Monkhouse gently chided him.

The Earl laughed.

“Mama will forgive me this once!”

Then he remembered that they had a guest and groaned. His mother would surely place Lady Waterton next to him and she would be throwing expectant looks at him all evening.

His thoughts were rudely interrupted by the sound of the gong striking again loudly downstairs.

“I have now been summoned by Mama,” he sighed, moving towards the door. “She is tired of waiting for me.”

He ran quickly down to the dining room.

As he did so, he reflected that the hall badly needed redecorating. Was not the ceiling looking a little dingy? And the chandelier seemed old-fashioned with its wrought-iron arms. Venetian crystal would be much more fitting –

As he entered the dining room, he was delighted to see that his brother, Alec, was already seated.

“You are feeling better?” he asked, rushing towards him to clap him on the back.

“The plaster all came off this afternoon while you were out,” he replied. “I still have my leg strapped up, but at least I can walk a little on it.”

The Earl tried to ignore the peacock-hued vision at the end of the table. Lady Waterton had donned a costume of questionable taste for dinner.

“But don’t worry, Robert,” continued Alec. “I will not be fit enough yet awhile to interfere with the great new plans you have for the Hall and estate!”

“You must sit next to me,” crooned Lady Waterton, patting the chair beside her with an enormous feather fan.

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