Love is a Gamble by Barbara Cartland

Author:Barbara Cartland
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781782139836
Publisher: Barbara Cartland Ebooks Ltd
Published: 2017-07-22T00:00:00+00:00

chapter five

Looking round the candlelit dining room while the Marquis sat at the head of the table with two glittering beauties on either side of him, Idona felt that the scene must be unreal as if in a theatre.

Ever since she had arrived at Wroxham House she had felt as if she was in a dream and somehow she just walked and talked as if she was a puppet and the Marquis pulled the strings.

His grandmother, the Dowager Marchioness, was very different from what she had expected.

The Marquis had set off from The Manor as early in the morning as Clarice Clairmont condescended to be ready.

After he had driven away Idona found that he had left instructions that she and Nanny were to leave the following morning when a carriage would arrive for them from London.

It was Nanny who was looking forward to the change in their circumstances more than Idona.

“His Lordship’s right,” she said firmly. “Although he brought that painted female here, he sees you’re a lady and should take your place, as your mother’d have wished, in the Social world.”

“I want no part in the Social world,” Idona replied.

But Nanny would not listen and only went on, saying how pleased both her father and mother would be that she should be introduced to London by the Dowager Marchioness of Wroxham.

“How do you know anything about her, Nanny?” Idona asked in surprise. .

“I keeps my eyes and ears open,” Nanny replied. “And I listens, which is more than most people do.”

Idona repressed a giggle, knowing that this was untrue as Nanny continued,

“His Lordship’s servants were a-tellin’ me how respected her Ladyship is and, as he has no wife, she plays hostess in all the houses his Lordship owns. He entertains the most respected and distinguished persons in the country, includin’ the Prince Regent himself!”

Idona prevented herself from protesting that the Prince had not always been very respectable and she had heard her father talk of his association with Mrs. Fitzherbert and a string of other women.

But Nanny was following her own thoughts and, as she talked, the words coming from her lips as if in a tidal wave, Idona ceased to listen.

She was well aware as soon as she saw the Marchioness that she was in some ways like her own mother.

When she was greeted by her, Idona felt strangely that with the Dowager at any rate she would feel at home in Berkeley Square.

*

The next day the Marchioness sent for the best dressmakers in Bond Street to come to the house early in the morning.

“You are not to put a foot outside the front door,” she said firmly, “until you are dressed as I want to see you.”

Idona looked worried.

“If you please, ma’am, will you – listen to me for a – moment?”

“Of course,” the Marchioness replied.

“His Lordship has said that I am to have – new clothes, but – I know that Mama would have been – very shocked at a – gentleman paying for anything I wear.

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