Love Has His Way by Barbara Cartland

Author:Barbara Cartland
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781788674973
Publisher: Barbara Cartland Ebooks ltd
Published: 2021-06-28T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIVE

“She is charming, absolutely charming!” Lady Lovell said. “You must tell me, Vallient, where you met her and why we have never heard of her before.”

The Marquis thought that Lady Lovell, who had known him since he was a child, had always been a bore. He disliked her over-enthusiastic manner of talking and the way, once she started on a subject, she worried at it like a dog with a bone.

He was, in fact, wondering exactly what Romana was saying to the Lord Chief Justice at the other end of the table.

When Lord Lovell had called on him the previous morning to discuss a difficulty over the common boundary of their estates, he had said before he left,

“I am sure you will not wish to break your tradition of giving a luncheon, as you always have, for the Lord Chief Justice? He is staying with us tomorrow night and I know that he is looking forward to coming to Sarne Hall again.”

It was an annual arrangement that the Marquis had forgotten about and he knew now, even with the excuse of being on his honeymoon, that it would be rude to refuse an old man who had been a friend of himself and his family ever since he could remember.

“Of. course,” he answered, “I shall be delighted to welcome the Lord Chief Justice with yourself and Lady Lovell and, of course, the whole entourage, as I always have.”

Lord Lovell had laughed.

“I am afraid that will make it twelve of us, since his Lordship, as you will know, travels in style. But I can reassure you by saying that his Private Chaplain is a much more pleasant man than the one we had to endure last year.”

“That is undoubtedly a relief,” the Marquis remarked.

As soon as Lord Lovell had left, he had sent for Mr. Barnham at once to tell him that there would be a luncheon party the following day.

Although neither of the men mentioned it to each other, they were both wondering how Romana would react to her first social occasion, which was a rather important one.

Lord Lovell was Lord Lieutenant of the County and he had already announced that he wished to retire in a year’s time. It was obvious that he would recommend to the King that the Marquis should take his place.

As a Lord Lieutenant officially representing His Majesty, it was absolutely essential that his wife should be everything that was desirable from the King’s Court point of view.

Mr. Barnham was well aware of this and he had several times in the last few years been apprehensive that the Marquis might marry somebody who would not be able to take up the position that was required of her.

It was not that important in London in the raffish Society that surrounded the Prince of Wales, but in the country propriety and dignity were essential.

The Marquis did not express his fears, but when he was alone Mr. Barnham reassured himself that Romana would do everything that was expected of her.

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