For All Eternity by Barbara Cartland

Author:Barbara Cartland
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781782132233
Publisher: Barbara Cartland EBooks ltd
Published: 2013-02-10T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOUR

Upstairs the housekeeper, Mrs. Flood, showed Ajanta into a very beautiful room, so exquisitely furnished that apart from the bed it was hard to believe that it was not a sitting room.

The sofa and chairs had gilt frames and there was a French commode of the Louis XV period, which Ajanta had always longed to see.

Her mother had taught her not only about art but also about period furniture and she was thrilled that she could recognise many pieces that until this moment she had known only from her mother’s description or from illustrations.

“I expect you would like to change, miss,” Mrs. Flood suggested, as Ajanta took off her bonnet and travelling-cape.

“Has my luggage arrived?” she enquired.

“Yes, miss, but there’s no reason for you to wear one of the gowns that’ll have been creased by packing. Your gowns from London are in the wardrobe.”

As she spoke, Mrs. Flood opened the doors of a very finely carved cupboard and Ajanta saw that a number of gowns were hanging inside it.

Mrs. Flood took them out one by one and she knew as she looked at them that they were not only more fashionable than anything she had ever seen, but so stylishly made and so prettily ornamented that she could hardly believe they were for her.

However, when she had put one on she knew that she looked quite different and certainly more attractive than ever before in her whole life.

She had no idea until now that she had such a tiny waist or that a gown without being in the least immodest would accentuate the perfection of her figure.

“You look lovely, miss, and that’s the truth!” Mrs. Flood said admiringly.

“Thank you,” Ajanta replied.

“His Lordship’s ordered tea in the blue drawing room and a footman is waiting to show you there.”

“Thank you,” Ajanta said again.

As she went down the stairs, she felt shy and she also wondered what her father would say when he heard that the Marquis had given her some new gowns.

She found, however, that her family and the Marquis were not in the blue drawing room but in the library.

The Vicar was already turning over the books the curator had selected for him and making exclamations of delight at finding rare volumes, which, as he kept saying, would be of inestimable value in his research.

As Ajanta came in through the door to join them, she saw the expression on the Marquis’s face and knew he approved of her appearance.

Although she told herself she must be very grateful for his kindness, she could not help resenting the fact that he was making a puppet out of her and she was dancing to his command.

It was, however, Charis who recognised that she looked so different.

“Ajanta! Where did you get that gown?” she asked in a whisper.

“His Lordship gave it to me,” Ajanta answered, “but don’t say anything in front of Papa.”

She realised that her father was unlikely to notice her appearance when he had books to look at.

When the Marquis took

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