Mine for Ever by Barbara Cartland

Author:Barbara Cartland
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-908303-86-8
Publisher: Barbara Cartland.com

CHAPTER SIX

It was with a very heavy heart that Lilliana climbed into Lord Farringdon’s phaeton the next day.

Only the previous evening she had overheard her parents having a terrible row about the wedding.

“She has made a great sacrifice for you, William,” she heard her mother say.

Lilliana had awakened the next day, hoping that her father would tell her that everything would be all right and that she would not have to marry Lord Farringdon after all – but he refused to even look her in the eye over breakfast.

At Carstairs House Lord Farringdon was busy and so Mrs. Lock escorted her into the morning room where a seamstress was patiently waiting for her.

A lump rose in Lilliana’s throat as she was handed ten samples of white silk to choose from for her wedding gown. It was all she could do not to throw them in the fire and watch the flames lick at them until they were no more.

At half-past ten, Lord Farringdon entered the room.

“You mustn’t see the bridal fabric – it’s bad luck!” shouted Mrs. Lock, outraged.

“I don’t believe in any such foolish superstitions,” he replied, “in any case, I wish to speak with Miss Parker alone. Now, please leave us.”

“My Lord?” asked Lilliana, querulously.

“Don’t alarm yourself, I have come to discuss with you what I hope will be a pleasant diversion. You seem to be a little overwrought, so I thought that a change of scenery might do you good.

“I have business in London and so I would like you to accompany me. Of course, I will speak to your parents and Mrs. Lock will attend you as chaperone.”

Lilliana took a deep breath.

With Lord Farringdon in London could she not slip away and speak with Robert in person?

His ship was arriving the day after next and he was so clever, perhaps he could think of a way to rescue her from the whole sorry business!

“I would rather stay in Hampshire, my Lord,” she replied quietly.

His expression altered and she recognised only too clearly the signs of anger on his face.

“Do I need to remind you about our bargain?” he growled coldly. “There is still plenty of time for the press to be informed of your father’s stupidity.”

“But you said that Count Vaslaski had returned to Russia and that the case had been closed.”

“I said, if you recall my exact words, that it had been suspended. There is a difference between suspended and closed. The Chief Inspector would gladly open it up again should I name the price!”

Lilliana remained silent while she thought.

‘So, he is to hold this over my head until the day he places the ring on my finger? I was foolish to believe that matters had been allowed to rest. I must set aside all ideas of visiting Robert – a letter it must be.’

“I repeat, will you come to London with me?”

Lord Farringdon was tapping irritably on the highly polished table. His eyes burned with impatience.

“We will be staying in Park Street?”

“Of course, it is my London home and will one day be yours.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.