A Shaft of Sunlight by Barbara Cartland

Author:Barbara Cartland
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-78213-039-0
Publisher: Barbara Cartland EBooks ltd

CHAPTER FIVE

The Duke sitting down at his desk in the Library after breakfast found a pile of letters awaiting him.

Mr. Middleton had already opened some of them, which were official documents and invitations, but those that were private and personal were always placed in a separate pile.

He saw the top two were from ladies who were endeavouring to engage his interest, but for whom at the moment he had little time.

He picked up the one beneath, and realising it was in his grandmother’s handwriting he opened it with an eagerness that was unusual.

For two weeks now he had had no news of what was happening at the Dower House, and he deliberately refrained from sending a groom with a note or asking his secretary to make enquiries on his behalf.

He told himself it was most important that there should be as little connection as possible between him and Giona until he was ready to expose her uncle.

Although he was sure he could trust his own servants, there was always the chance that some careless remark or an inquisitive underling would start the ball of gossip rolling.

He was, in fact, extremely anxious that Sir Jarvis should not be suspicious that he was aware of Giona’s whereabouts.

He knew that Sir Jarvis was perturbed and bewildered by the behaviour of the Viscount.

Lucien had informed his Guardian that he had been receiving invitation after invitation to Stamford House in Grosvenor Square, and he had also had several notes from Claribel which, although he did not say so, were obviously of a passionate nature.

The Duke thought with satisfaction that, if nothing else, he and Lucien had Sir Jarvis and his disreputable daughter puzzled and perhaps more than a little apprehensive as to what had gone wrong.

Now he drew out the thick parchment paper which was engraved with the Alverstode crest on which his grandmother had written to him in her spidery, but always legible hand-writing, and read,

“My dearest Grandson,

I think it is time you paid me a visit, and I have something to show you which I am sure you will find interesting and in fact intriguing.

May I suggest that it might be a good idea to bring Lucien with you. I understand he is behaving as might be expected, which at the same time is good neither for his reputation nor for his health.

Come as soon as you can, and I shall welcome you with the deepest delight.

I remain,

Your most affectionate Grandmother,

Charlotte Alverstode.”

The Duke smiled as he finished the letter and thought it was so typical of his grandmother that she was aware of what was happening in London and was in consequence as concerned about Lucien as he was himself.

As she had said, it was to be expected that after the shock of Claribel’s perfidy he should repair his broken heart in an orgy of riotous living.

His friends had regaled the Duke and a number of interfering well-wishers with an almost daily account of what Lucien was doing.

There was nothing particularly reprehensible about

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