The Bitter winds of Love by Barbara Cartland

Author:Barbara Cartland [Cartland, Barbara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781788675741
Publisher: Barbara Cartland Ebooks Ltd
Published: 2022-02-22T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

“What am I to do?” Lydia asked.

She had finished telling him of her anger with Gerald and her despair at making Ann see the foolishness of her actions.

“There are only two people in the house that I care about, Ann and Tessa. They are both young, both at the beginning of their lives and the surroundings in which they live are bound to contaminate and probably ruin them.

“Perhaps it is silly to care as much as I do, but I cannot help it. I cannot stand by and see Ann ruin herself with a man like the Baron or watch Tessa alternately neglected and spoilt by that fiendish mother of hers.”

Major Taylor took out his cigarette case.

“May I smoke?” he asked.

She nodded her assent and he lit his cigarette.

“I know a great deal about Baron Sébale,” he said slowly, “you have not exaggerated in the slightest degree the danger of his association with Ann. It must be stopped, but how to do it is another matter. Gerald Carlton is the proper person to speak to Sébale, but whether he will do so is quite another matter. Has he any sense of responsibility, I wonder?”

“You warned me, you know,” Lydia said, “at least I guessed a good deal from what you left unsaid. How right you were. But I wish you had said more and that Ann and I had turned round and gone back to England.”

“Has the child no Guardians except her mother?” Harold asked.

“I don’t know,” Lydia replied. “Her mother is, of course, her natural Guardian. I believe that Sir John left Ann’s money in the hands of Trustees until she is twenty-five. One could, of course, appeal to them.”

“I doubt if they would help you very much,” Major Taylor answered, “the Baron is not a fortune-hunter. He is an exceedingly rich man with vast estates both here and in France.

“Another difficulty is the fact that he is welcomed by Ann’s stepfather to their house and to all intents and purposes by her mother.

“Were he to carry on a secret flirtation with the girl, as he would be bound to do if she lived in any other household, we could make a genuine scene about it, he is accepted by any decent woman here, but in this case he is quite safe and he knows it.”

“But then suppose Gerald Carlton did turn the Baron out of the house,” Lydia suggested. “Would Ann or he accept the position quietly?”

“Things would be so much easier then,” Harold answered. “Public opinion could make it impossible for him to go on seeing Ann.”

“Then you will have to speak to Gerald,” Lydia proposed.

“But what could I say that would carry any weight?”

“Perhaps he would listen to you. I have done my best and it has not had much effect,” Lydia said with a bitter smile.

“It is hardly my business,” Major Taylor replied hesitatingly.

“Oh, but you will try to make him see sense? Please, Harry, please say you will.”

She used his Christian name quite

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