Stars in the Sky by Barbara Cartland

Author:Barbara Cartland
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 978-1906950-44-6
Publisher: Barbara Cartland.com

CHAPTER SEVEN

Count von Brauer lost no time in informing the Duchess of his impromptu visit to Farron Towers. He was anxious to impress upon her the desirability of removing her step-daughter from the company of the dashing Lord Farron.

"After all," he shrugged, watching the Duchess closely, "Sylvia does not remember me and – she is in a highly susceptible state at the moment."

The Duchess was so distracted by this intimation of an unwelcome friendship between Sylvia and Lord Farron, that she quite forgot to rebuke the Count for visiting Sylvia without her express command. The Duchess was sure that Lord Farron, though of an old and distinguished family, was by no means as wealthy as the Count. The Count, after all, owned vast estates in Bavaria!

She must act quickly or all would be lost!

She sent a message to Sylvia announcing that she would be coming to fetch her home later that day.

At Farron Towers, meanwhile, Charity and Sylvia sat down to lunch without Lord Farron. Hattie said he had gone out on his horse and would not return till late. Sylvia, head low, sat toying with her food. Charity glanced at her now and then from under her brows.

Charity was aware that something had occurred between her brother and Sylvia, something that had rendered them both equally miserable. For the moment neither of them wished to enlighten her on the subject and she respected their silence even as it troubled her.

A hundred times, Sylvia was on the point of telling her friend what had happened and a hundred times she held her tongue. She could not bear it if the same bitter look crossed Charity's face at the news as had crossed Lord Farron's.

It was during dessert that a message for Sylvia was brought in on a tray.

Sylvia went pale as she read the message. Then she burst into tears and rushed from the table.

Charity went after her in alarm. When she tapped on Sylvia's door, however, Sylvia simply called out in a choked voice that she was obliged to prepare to return home. She offered no further explanation for her tears and Charity retired, hurt and puzzled.

An hour later, her cheeks still damp, Sylvia sat disconsolately at her window. She stared out at the green sward of lawn that ran down to the estuary. Her heart was so heavy she could imagine it sinking like a stone into those grey-green waters.

She had been so happy here at Farron Towers, so happy in the company of Lord Farron and his sister. It was in all innocence that she had allowed herself to feel more for Lord Farron than was, as it turned out, appropriate. Yet still she berated herself.

How could the fact that she was engaged to be married have been so completely wiped from her mind?

When she thought of the Count her heart gave a wild, unhappy lurch. In what circumstances had she accepted his proposal of marriage? Could she ever have been in love with him and if

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