The Ruthless Rake by Barbara Cartland

Author:Barbara Cartland
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781782137528
Publisher: Barbara Cartland Ebooks ltd
Published: 2015-10-30T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

Syringa came running down the stairs.

As she did so she noted that the hand on the grandfather clock in the hall had not yet reached nine o’clock.

She was early because she had woken almost with the dawn to watch the sunshine peep between the curtains and feel excited at the thought of the day that lay ahead.

She would be with the Earl, they would ride together, they would talk! She found herself going over a whole list of subjects that she wished to discuss with him.

Although it was early, it was already warm and, going downstairs, Syringa carried her riding jacket over her arm and her hat in her hand.

She wore her riding skirt with several voluminous petticoats and a blouse of white muslin inset with lace which Nanny had spent many laborious hours over.

It had, however, been made two years before, and now it clung to her figure making it very obvious that she was no longer the child which at times she appeared to be.

As she reached the hall, she heard the sound of a horse moving away outside the front door and then saw the Earl come walking up the steps, his top hat on his head and a riding whip in his gloved hand.

“Oh! You have already been riding!” she exclaimed, the disappointment obvious in her voice.

“I woke early,” the Earl answered. “Our plans are changed. I wish to speak with you, Syringa.”

Not waiting for her answer he walked ahead through the great marble hall and entered his study.

He crossed the room and stood with his back to the chimneypiece watching Syringa who had followed him. She paused just inside the door, a troubled expression in her grey eyes.

There was silence until Syringa asked,

“Why have you changed our plans? I was so looking forward to riding with you this morning,”

“I have decided to take you to London,” the Earl replied.

“To London!”

There was sheer astonishment in the exclamation.

“I was thinking last night,” the Earl continued, “that it was a mistake for me to have brought you here to King’s Keep. You will not mention to anyone that you have stayed here unchaperoned.”

“But why? What does it matter? Who would be interested?”

“Let me finish,” the Earl said and his tone was severe. “You will go to London as my Ward. Our story is that you were left in my charge by your father on his death.”

“I don’t understand,” Syringa murmured. “Why are all these falsehoods necessary?”

“I have already sent a groom ahead,” the Earl continued as if she had not spoken, “to ask my maternal grandmother, the Dowager Lady Hurlingham, to chaperone you. You will stay at Rothingham House and from there you will make your debut into Society.”

“No! No!” Syringa cried.

She moved across the room towards him.

“I have no desire to enter Society,” she declared. “I am ignorant of the Social world and the people who inhabit it. Why should you wish me to go to London? Why should you take me away from here?”

“I have decided it is for your good,” the Earl replied in a lofty tone.

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