Lies for Love by Barbara Cartland

Author:Barbara Cartland
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-78213-043-7
Publisher: Barbara Cartland EBooks ltd

CHAPTER FIVE

“This morning,” the Earl said as they set off from the front door, “I want to ride to the top of Gale Hill. It is something that I can remember doing when I was a boy, and being very impressed by it.”

Carmela thought for a moment, and vaguely remembered hearing the Countess say something about it. But it was not clear in her mind and she therefore talked of other things when they were not moving too fast for conversation.

When finally they began to climb up through the thick wood, then emerged into an area of treeless ground which rose more steeply still, she was aware that when they reached the top there should be a fine view.

They had already ridden at least three miles from the house and the horses had to move slowly along a path that was little more than a sheep-track.

When finally they reached the top she saw she had been right in thinking there would be a panoramic view, and also what looked like a stone monument.

As they dismounted she said:

“I expected a Folly. Why was that monument erected?”

“I will show you,” the Earl smiled.

He walked ahead of her holding his horse by the bridle and Carmela followed leading Flycatcher in the same way. Then as they reached the monument she saw it consisted of a large flat slab with the points of the compass carved on the stone. Then the meaning of what the Countess had once said came to her and she exclaimed:

“Now I remember hearing about this!”

The Earl looked at the view in front of him, then at the compass.

There was an inscription encircling it and Carmela read:

“All the land you see from the top of this hill belongs to the Gale family who have owned it since 1547.”

She read it aloud and the Earl said:

“I remember the first time I came here. I was so small that I found that sentence quite hard to read.”

“I remember that Grandmama said it was untrue,” Carmela replied, “and that on a fine day one can see into three other counties where the land is not owned by the family.”

The Earl stared at her. Then he asked:

“Is that true?”

“I am only repeating what Grandmama said to me. It was when she was reminiscing about the Estate, and saying how much the Gales as a family liked to boast of their possessions.”

She was teasing the Earl, and she thought he would laugh. Instead there was a scowl on his face as he looked down at the compass. Then he said violently:

“I will have that inscription removed. If there is one thing I loathe and detest it is lies and deception of any kind!”

He was obviously so angry that Carmela looked at him in surprise, wondering why something so unimportant should affect him so tremendously.

Because the Earl went on scowling at the compass she said:

“I am – sorry. I did not – mean to make you – angry. Perhaps it would have been better if I had not repeated what Grandmama said which may in fact not be–true.

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