Secrets by Barbara Cartland

Author:Barbara Cartland
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781782131694
Publisher: Barbara Cartland EBooks ltd
Published: 2012-11-29T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIVE

The next morning at just before seven o’clock Sandra awoke and thought wistfully that the Earl would be going riding without her.

She had hoped and hoped that perhaps he would send her a note saying that she could ride with him, only to be disappointed.

She told herself that she was being greedy and expecting too much.

But it was agony to imagine him galloping over the Downs as they had done yesterday, and know he was either alone or – much worse – with somebody he found more interesting then herself.

When she came downstairs rather earlier than usual, there was no sign of him in the breakfast room and then she saw that breakfast was not laid for him and the Earl had obviously eaten elsewhere.

Feeling somewhat forlorn, although it was ridiculous, she went to find herself a book to read until the Countess was ready to see her.

By that time the newspapers had arrived and she carried them upstairs to the Countess’s bedroom.

As usual, she was powdered and rouged, her wig was in place and this morning she was wearing several ropes of large pearls which, Sandra thought, must be worth a fortune.

As the Countess was obviously not in a conversational mood, Sandra read to her the editorial in The Morning Post and then The Court Circular.

There was an announcement that the Prince Regent had arrived at the Marine Pavilion in Brighton, together with a list of other distinguished personages who either were already in the town or were expected.

The Earl was, of course, among them and Sandra recognised names of many of the beautiful women whom she had heard of when she was in London, but had never had the opportunity to see.

The Countess made no comment on what she read and when she had finished Sandra said in her soft voice,

“Would you like me, ma’am, to start reading you a novel? I thought perhaps you would find it amusing.”

“It is a long time since I have listened to one,” the Countess remarked, “and then usually very badly read!”

“I hope the one I will be reading will please you and perhaps make you forget your troubles.”

“Who said I had any troubles?” the Countess demanded in a hostile manner and Sandra knew she had said the wrong thing.

A little later, when the Countess said she intended to get up, Sandra went downstairs and searched the shelves in the library for a novel that she thought might amuse the old lady.

She was sure it ought to be either witty or romantic and she thought that one of Jane Austen’s novels might be what she was looking for.

She was not surprised to find them on the shelves, even the last one which had just been published.

Already Sandra had realised that the efficient way the house was run was due to the Earl and that he insisted on everything being as near perfection as possible.

She felt she could understand in consequence how much it must upset him that he had no wife, as he should have, to be his hostess.

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