The Disgraceful Duke by Barbara Cartland

Author:Barbara Cartland
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Barbara Cartland EBooks ltd
Published: 2014-04-21T16:00:00+00:00

“Something will have to be done, but it appears that no one in the management has any idea what it should be.”

There were many sketches in the newspapers of Beau Bardsley in his leading roles, but even when she had read everything that was written about him Shimona felt that there was very much left unsaid.

The newspapers did not describe his generosity and his kindness to his fellow actors and none of them had understood how his whole life had centred round his home, his wife and daughter.

“I have protected you from the newspapers as I know your father would have wished me to do,” Doctor Lesley said.

But because she was so anonymous to the extent that no one had ever heard of her, Shimona could not help feeling that she had died too.

The house that had once held three happy people united by their love for each other was now only a hollow shell.

Sitting in front of the fire she was just thinking that it was about time she put the kettle on when she heard a knock on the front door.

She thought perhaps Nanna had forgotten her key and, jumping to her feet, she ran across the small hall and opened the door.

Then she gave a gasp, for it was not Nanna who stood there in her black cloak and bonnet, but the Duke.

He was even more resplendent than she remembered, with his starched white cravat, the points of his collar high above his chin and his high hat at an angle on his dark head.

As they stared at each other, it seemed to Shimona as if she had flown across the world to find the person who was waiting for her on the other side of it and she felt an extraordinary sense of homecoming, security and protection.

“Shimona!” the Duke exclaimed.

She thought that her name had never sounded so attractive as it did spoken in his deep voice. Then slowly, as if he forced himself to remember his manners, he took his hat from his head.

“May I come in?” he asked. “There is a great deal I have to say to you.”

She opened the door a little wider and he walked into the hall and seemed much too large for it.

Shimona closed the door behind him and, without speaking, led the way into the small sitting room.

The Duke looked up at Beau Bardsley’s portrait over the mantelpiece.

“Now I understand! You are Beau Bardsley’s daughter, but I had no idea that he had one!”

“Papa would never – allow me to have – anything to do with the – theatre,” Shimona answered, wondering why her voice sounded so strange.

“I can understand that,” the Duke said, “and yet he let you come to me to act the part I required.”

“Papa was – unconscious and knew nothing about it. I came because I needed the money to take him abroad. I hoped it would – save his life.”

There was a perceptible quiver in her voice and the Duke said,

“I asked you to trust me.

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